MURDER, SHE DESIRED

ely. Le

ng air fe

st

qu

s hiding the bruises under her eyes-fatigue,

ame woman she wa

imed. Caught in a game sh

he first time, s

. Ordered the same bitter coffee. Sat in the same corn

gray hoodie a

ed his drink in

counter with the ov

st

r Dominic had left s

_Are thes

nds

nic:**

ulse

another

through the kitche

dn't h

back, pushed past the "Employees Onl

eeched to a sto

door fl

wasn't

e man

't recog

Scarred knuck

if it wasn't a question. "

" she

who thinks you've

rned t

f the car, grabbing her w

e. "Come quietly and maybe you walk out. Make a scen

he could

ot cracked thr

tantly, blood bloom

d stumbled back

nd of the alley, gun r

ough gritted teeth, storm

rough, but firm-and dra

that?" sh

assenger seat, slammed t

voice ice-cold, "was

him, shaken, adre

s the

ething dangerous flick

isn't

h the city like it

't speak. No

eel like he was holding

e kept replaying it: the cold stare of the man who tried to tak

him," she

ok at her. "

n't aim

pain." He finally glanced he

* me," she snapped. "Yo

idn't let it happen.

*? For the drama?

e him br

and stopped. Dominic turne

kinds of people circling your name. If I hadn't been there-if I h

owed hard

r lips, lingered for j

e said. "And because the moment I looked at you,

in, heavier now, weighted wit

ses

si

ess

eached into the glove box. H

'll text you instructions. If I say don't le

phone. "And if I d

-not a smile. S

va. The only way out

he edge of the city, past familiar streets

we going?

was calm.

place you'r

silence for

, broken fences, woods that looked like they

in, didn't even blink more than necessary. His face wa

pulled into a

elf. Cameras tracked

ike a safehou

he answer

black glass carved into the hillside. Stark.

corridors and silent rooms. No

know about this p

a door at the end of the

her lik

. Minimal. Cold. But stocked-like

m staying her

you are,

ou can't just hide me aw

he said, stepping clo

as he boxed her i

that grab today, you don't lea

You think locking me up

keep you alive long enough

ave, then pause

, without facing her. "Why I

t speak.

. And this time, his voice

Eva... I saw something

ha

t her

e worth

t, and the door c