Substitute Bride

o of

ttress hard. The air pu

bling up on her elbows. "I did what you wa

er, his shadow sw

gone. His

predator

playing i

was low, d

efer it when

don

your debt

commenting on the weath

collect. One pa

squeeze

drained ou

hot, fast

ispered to the ceiling, t

w it would en

-

nths Ea

n Chloe's gut

her bedroom, teeth gritted,

ix a.m. flight. Director Shaw was a t

ption. Showing up lik

one person who

umbled for

she could talk h

ed on the s

ay? You sound

s bad," Ch

me a favor?

for you.

fly. I can't even stand. W

w desperate

re because

aus

s like this time of year. Wild

our lasts forever. And Shaw can't find a replacement thi

sig

her, rolling her eye

say no to you. But

t. Anyt

see a doctor. Right

ar. Daisy's on

ipped out

or you'll mis

lau

you owe me tapas

ole restaurant.

re, idiot. F

l and pressed the p

out you," she whisper

sed the

let her

f dreamless,

iet house and a

de her

ed cookies from the kitchen,

was cool in

on the TV

topped her

Barcelona crashed shortly after takeoff. 200 souls on board. Eight survivors have

ate sl

c exploded across

t's.

idn't sound

se's fligh

on hung in

e ans

, it ca

d her phone, scrolled back to

GH-217. Departure: 4:

hit like

tangled in her h

spent an hour on that

ut of her, r

the fluffy rug, folding into her

brated again

ed without

e you okay? Where are you? I

okay," Chloe

was a shar

, I'm

ey. I know.

e cracked, t

y where you are. I'm leaving the office now.

only hum. A

them - Chloe,

mmates turn

by VellCorp as a financial manager. Eig

Rose cho

tty apartment for two years before Chl

he trio. Un

l to

til her throat

our, Rose sneaking her into a wrap party, Rose h

tears stopped and

ripped her

ked it, and collapsed into Daisy's arm

y made it r

arted fresh

n Daisy's blazer, soa

idn't

idn't e

st hel

f Chloe's head, the other r

she murmured,

e got you, Chloe

hloe

e too, there'd be no

y staye

f, locked it behind her te

," Daisy whisper

I'm here. I'm not

hear

as per

und so lost it d

, of laughter, of _Rose_ pour ou

ld her t

he Septemb

world had alre

understand why Liam Re

d wear Rose's punishme

-

nt crashe

Liam on the be

igns mansion pressing

still grippin

enough to

to remind her s

d the tea

wipe

look

ain," he said quietly, "you didn

t _my_

breath h

Ro

at wa

as the

mo

ontra

ers

e was suppos

ment at