r the streetlights when Lily

ushroom bisque Marina insisted David needed. The order took nearly f

specific steamed herbal broth from that new place in the West Village. It's essential for his recovery. You wouldn't

he heavy, warm bag in her han

hrough," Marina cut in, her tone cooling. "I wouldn't want to have to tell

hed her ja

othes clung to her like a second skin, her arms ached from the weight

he scene through the slightly

his bed, feeding him spoonfuls from a bowl, a soft, intimate laugh escaping her lip

chest. She pushed the door ope

led. Marina's eyes widened, no

be so long," David s

"Are you serious? She sent me on a wild goose chase across

realize. I've been gone so long, I forgot how traffic

ld, disbelieving

voice hardened,

mean to. I won't let your efforts go to waste. If it'll make you feel better, I'll eat it all myself-eve

rocodile tears-it was laughable. But there was nothing funny abou

ily said coldly. "I don't

anger and humiliation

e heard the ru

a declared. "I'll

bite, her movements performative. In that moment, it looked less like an apol

n, Mari

aining of color in an instant. One h

vid's voice

led to her f

her face swelling rapidly, red b

re!" David barked,

plummeted t

she whisper

David swept Marina into his arms, carrying her down

egs moving before he

the ER doors, Dav

ession w

," he hissed. "You knew she

ly stammered, her throat clos

loser. "If anything happens to her. anything. I'll

hit her li

, hands shaking. "You

swer. He did

ion in his eyes

ful beat, broken only by the frantic sounds of nurs

a sharp, shud

is back, storming into the

done n

e allergy. She hadn't for

rina's final, dramatic words befor

feel better, I'll

of person

t something they knew

was that David Hardison-a man renowned for his ruthless clarity-c

spine. She was ready to bow out. So