e settle her racing heart into a slow, steady beat. She adjusted her mask, took
dn't end for
her other patients, her voice calm, her hands steady. When colleagues offered a conc
s. I'm
familiar weigh
not towards the parking garage where her sensible sedan was parked, but to
dn't g
ity center. An apartment she'd bought with money from her own fa
sanc
g on every single light. The stark white walls and minimalist furniture felt
r phone and diale
ring, her voice sharp and awake even
," Kayli said, her voice
of the line. Then, Chloe's voice, low and furiou
she could stand it. She scrubbed her skin until it was raw, trying to wash away the
pped in a plush robe, staring out the fl
She was carrying a bottle of expensive
the suitcases by the door. She moved to the ki
the first time all night, she let the exhaustion show on her face. She
ry word. When Kayli finished, Chloe let out a str
e asked, her tone shifting to pragmatic. "The Bonner
ment. The city lights reflected in her gray-b
piece of damp hair behind her ear, a habit she had when her mind was made up.
ing towards the sprawling, sterile mansion in
opened the door, her face a mi
ner called. He won't be home tonight. He's st
ion, were just another confirmatio
lmly. "I'm just here to
ing silently behind her. She bypassed the master bedroom, a room that ha
dbags, the velvet-lined drawers of jewelry Brody had bought h
ew pairs of scrubs. Her favorite jeans. The worn-out sweat
worn wooden case. It held the few things her mother had left
thes with a quiet efficiency. In les
ind a painting and pulled out a thick manila envelope. She'd had her lawyer draw
e was decorated in shades of gray and chrome, a testamen
orce agreement f
y in the middle of th
one Brody used for his celebratory cigars-and set it on top o
elt like a lifetime spent in someone else's skin. There w
gone for a while. If you need to send any of Leo's things,
expression confused. She likely t
uitcases behind them. The sound of the wheels on the sto
home. He was exhausted. Carly had been demanding and t
gone to the hospital early, sulking. It annoyed him that s
the living room, loosening his tie. He was about to pour h
ope, held down
ion crossing his face. More paperwork
ut the docu
scanned t
e Agre
gh the pages, his movements jerky. P
to the f
tom, was her sign
and. As if she were signing a presc
/1/121194/coverbig.jpg?v=84f91c912b9966834f35fe7f9944717a&imageMogr2/format/webp)