t, she slammed the door shut and pressed he

ould

still wet. Her skin still shivered where

ruin yo

y become someone

ispered, dragging a sha

vibrated o

n unknow

awake

yourself. Th

s nearly

from that encounter. But more than that, she felt seen. Like he kne

o snap back to normal.

mouth, his voice, his presenc

texting her.

e, she l

o her couch, h

omething wr

had

Days L

t hear fro

rs waiting outside her building. It wa

r mirror. She looked different. Brighter. Hungrie

his voice, replaying everything h

d his fingers i

h to

d. "Sorry.

board. "Your client's waiting i

roze.

hrugged. "

omach

uldn't ju

epped into the

n't Ca

s. Sharp charcoal suit. Navy tie.

d when h

"I've been looking fo

smile. "You a

t held his attention." "I represent a private client. Anony

wly. "Any piece

her gaze. "J

dy sti

ha

e sharp and empty. "He's interested in the arti

aid I was

dn't ha

own her spine. "

a hand. "Law

st short of shaking hi

an is

or drop

ly, like he was waiting for

ve only spoken briefl

oser. "I know exactly where you were three nights a

caught. "

id calmly. "But you are the f

tightened.

something from

ssy p

sian's desk. Dress hitche

rom his hand, he

son o

e." He paused. "My son is... not well. He attaches

s curled arou

awrence continued. "He cares about

you here?" she

in. "And to offer you an

. "You think I'm

said slowly, "

alked out witho

center of the gallery, pu

ph

a fuckin

t, she di

hts off, the photo face

angry. Furio

deeper sat ben

hing

t a piec

it felt. Like she'd been branded with proof

didn't just t

arke

one vi

unknown nu

t my f

message. Her heart

he says. He wants t

h, Eden? Or safety?

hovered abov

she t

k a pho

h

ponse c

what you looked like

eath h

used

t. But didn

d, she

a game

was a

h

arned you.

the message fo

she t

m tired

appeared

e. Tomorrow

er

inally touch you

omach

e the

Night ,

er didn'

re tinted. She sat in the back se

dressed f

essed like

bra. No panties. Just

to an old iron gat

ed. Overgrown with vines. Gothic windo

ed before she

ss

ay. Slacks. Bare feet.

dn't

held out

took

arm. Dark wood. Old boo

hall. Past the living

door with a

pene

rors. A long, dark table. A faint sme

far wall was a s

" he

e

y. Like every step was choreog

ront of her. Sp

ered just abo

bare," he sai

whim

touch he

ently. Not kindly. You'll thank me when yo

ed to b

Walked b

her shoulders. Dow

hispered

be pleased. You're

ar

lled something

k bli

idn't

t over her eye

whispered. "It's just me. And you. And

ody s

heard him

Two then

d someth

a c

ga

ice came l

You're about to lea