ing around her. The man in the Audi smiled, a

s older brother? We met at the wedding, briefl

on dawned. He had been in the bac

ng," Julian said carefully. He did

Elara said, l

id. "I'll drive you

. The car smelled of antiseptic and o

merged into traffic. "Harper's couc

ne right now,

low. A closet costs th

Queens. Near the hospital. It's rent-controlled. The te

im. "I don't want

who won't burn the place down. You're a scientis

market price,

d his eyes. "We can discuss it. Let's get cof

killers were making him groggy, and the o

m. Vanessa was the daughter of a banking mogul, a bli

" Ethan said. "The ma

an," Vanes

hop on 45th. It was neutral

door for Vanessa.

the room ou

en he

as laughing. Her head was thrown back, her

ng a tweed jacket. He was smiling at her like s

ears. The ulcer flared,

lian. He just saw a ma

ow you pay th

through the cafe

g. She froze. Slowly,

g with rage. Vanessa stood

a said. Her v

Ethan sneered, stepping closer. He looked at Julian with disgust. "H

owered their phones, but the c

is coffee cu

han, but he was tall, and he held him

said. His voice was

ack at Elara. "You leave me and a week

d go," Vanessa whisper

She faced Ethan.

, her voice carrying clearly. "Not

back gasped.

"Landlord? You can't afford a place

cted. "And she has better credit th

Julian. He narrowed his eyes

ce," Julian

me. "So you're running to her family for handouts," Ethan la

haking, but she clenched them into fists.

to walk

ed her arm. His grip was

," Elar

u admit you'r

than. He simply held up his phone, the ca

but laced with steel. "Unless you want this livestream to go directly to your

ed at the other patrons recording

go as i

e's leaving,

lked out the door, her head hi

n at the people filming. "I'

urrie

His wrist throbbed. The silence was deafening. He

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