him t
h anger I didn't bother hiding. "Pl
o say something else, like there was a thousand words trapped
id quietly. He left
der than it should have. I stood there long after, staring at th
sleep t
aniel, standing in my office with those bl
und my legs, my heart racing like I'd be
vise. Exhaustion clung to me, thick and heavy. Fear
ght cut thro
knew so
It hadn't even been surprise. It was recognition. Like h
adn't to
n't let
nt to the hospital. Visiting hours were technically over, but no
his chest the only thing keeping my panic at bay. I sat beside him for
alls felt too clo
my arms against a sudden chill, an
t my shoulders bef
e right now," a famili
ni
fr
rwhelming in the narrow hallway. The hospital lights cast harsh shadows
oing here?" I w
he said. "And to ma
d. "That
get to disappear for eight years and the
trust me," he said. "I'
my arms. "
all your nonprofit's debts toni
ht, but I didn
foundation," he continued. "My name s
mpossible
r," he replied calmly.
pounded
dded. "Round-the-clock. And I'll move his medical bil
mmediately. "A
y the building anonymously. The nonprofit st
felt like it
said, my voice trembling. "
lenched.
napped. "
swer, a new voice
nie
very instin
dered, dressed in a dark gray suit that screamed money an
ntire body
e," he
slow and assessing, and I f
Riley," he said smoothl
twisted. "W
fering a hand I didn't take. "An
asted like
front of me. "We're in the
our friend." His eyes returned to me. "You've built quite the no
it made me feel
rs," I sa
ened. "Of cou
eared, he excused himself, disappe
Jonathan Pierce is dangerous. More dangerous
y away? He knows who I a
back," Daniel sai
t harder tha
ispered. "Not after the way you l
Pierce won't stop. That let
left," I demanded. "
That silence wa
ur father," he sa
that." Our voices rose. A nur
r leave," she said. Daniel looked at
aid quietly. "When you're
d out into the cold n
Time is running out.
oat pocket and stepped towar
ar slowed
ni
gh to let his voice slip out – lo
dn't you?" he sa
o leave me al
crossing his face. "Jane... there is no alone an
said. "Not your lawyer. Not t
etly, decisively: "And when the time runs out, I
. The car disappea
shaking, caught between walki
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