Faithfully Yours

eside her mother's bed, trying to will strength into her bone

e was barely a whis

hair from her mother

hers. "Promise me you'll live. Not just survive. I don't wa

ack tears. "Do

our sketchpad. That building..

fe

a f

it haunted you," h

the shiver that ran th

i

didn't cash it. Didn't tear it up either. She just h

ll Lena. Didn

he was standing in front

nd clouds and the pr

epped

he sound of her heels echoing like gunshots. A woman with blood-r

e is expe

e to respond before

ere. Dami

than her life. His eyes were the color of we

s Bl

bled. "You gav

d

now w

y, like a predator circling pre

ed her

t. Contractual Arrangem

opped. "You sa

hanged

asn't t

o position t

parted,

is to accept." He leaned closer, voice low. "Sign it... and I'll make

in re

ne. For th

"In eve

shook in

si

contract from her hands. His finge

ng." Her breath caught. "Wh

ps brushing the

n't like

hat little she had-sketchbooks, her mother's locket,

ring city streets that looked like another planet thr

ator stopped,

tho

pened into

ass and steel. Cold

an wa

. Wolfe's assistant. I'll

s?" Emma

g has its

oo pristine. Like a hote

e will summon you when he's ready.

n?" Alina didn't ans

nig

hone

o

rd. Not a questi

she walked the long ha

epped

to her, a glass of something da

ob

tur

in his eyes made

t cruelty. B

ff your

parted.

ow

outside again, ec

he re

dea what she

he zipper, the lights flicke

thouse plunged

amiliar, crackled throug

dn't be he