His wife was never meant to survive

I

icked Kiah up

fortress

r made eye contact. The second man in the passenger

ed in her lap, the diamond ring catc

ed to ri

hrow it out the

words echoe

w ever

watching her phone. Tracking her. Controllin

er apartment building,

de," the driver said. His v

d an escort t

ucas i

urse

floor apartment, the two men flanking

the door and

it had this morning. Emptier. Li

s," the driver sai

ed to her bedroom and pulled

Arthur had said everything would be provided, but that felt like anot

s. Toiletries. A photo of

laptop when she saw it.

fr

there this morning

The two men were standing in t

elope with trembling

a single pi

u. He is using you. Get

breath

been in he

left this fo

w she was le

s voice cut through her pa

nto her pocket and zip

g, but she forced h

that message wa

ted her to

could not show w

the apartment wi

TH

his penthouse, watching the

s on he

g sure everything was in place. Her r

he ca

e was at all times. Not be

id not trust

ned, and Kiah stepped

high ceilings and floor-to-ce

eyes wer

nd gestured toward the hall

nt to know who sent me t

N

know everythin

. She was still clutching her s

ed a contract. That means you do what I tell you. You go where I

tened. "I am no

he distance between them in three strides. "Th

ng uneven. For a moment, Arthur s

ar

o

ld keep

ning away before he did s

ing her t

I

through the penthou

es. Expensive furniture. Windows

s bea

suffo

front of a door

is you

ed inside

ng-sized bed. A walk-in closet. A private bathroom

on the

Arthur. "You

e. "This building has enemies. The windows

are a

against the doorframe, his arms cro

ething. To make him feel even a fra

ced herself

r room?" she

yes darken

w how far I need to ru

ething cold. "You will no

keep me he

is all I need. After that, you can run as far as you want." He stopped inches f

r name sent a shiv

hate

hate

of her that was not ent

. "Dinner is at sev

nd closed the d

center of the room

e from her pocket

tecting you. H

hey wer

her for something she

d signed t

e was no

next hour unpac

ich already contained an entire wardrobe she h

d to play the role o

except he

last of her clothes

m an unkno

under y

lood tur

he message, her

was watc

knew she

e the bed and l

black box tucked

it out and

urner phone an

help. Do not let him f

o hard she thought

s doin

d

note under her mattress a

said he kne

not know

meone was work

anted her to

ull her deeper into someth

dge of the bed, h

walked i

which side she was

TH

e security footag

d found

known s

r was smart. They knew his sec

ing faster than h

d up his pho

he said when the

her end was calm. Professio

goes wr

to keep her close. Make sure she does

call and leaned b

was a pawn in som

was

ow that Arthur was

figured it out, it

t, Kiah walked in

at the head of the table,

he entered, his gaz

f the dresses from the clo

e she belonged

ed like

Arthu

om him, her hands

hed between th

aced food in front of th

to eat," A

not hu

n." Arthur's tone lef

hed, but she pic

dying every movement. E

aid. Angry.

as hiding

ng the silence, "we are announc

d snapped

tand beside me. Smile. Answer questions

the contract

thur set his glass down. "Appearances matter, Kiah. The so

ah's voice was tig

d quietly, "is non

are going to

n did not change.

ng in the ai

nt pale

table. He stopped beside her chair,

the moment I chose you." He leaned down, his mouth close to her ear. "And the o

breath

ened and walked

t looking back. "Tomorrow, the w

itting alone

shadows, a phone buzz

ticking. She h