began as

oftened the world into something unreal. Regina sat in the passenger seat, arms

e erasi

n at her hands

said hoarsely. "Sasha woul

ad. "She wouldn't do it herself," he r

like a metronome, counting dow

the console and hand

opened it. Inside were phot

men

ruct

nned

coastal road known

gistered in

ed beyond r

lurred. "This is.

said. "This

ch turned

she whi

ause you're a liability now.

t* hung between t

r abdomen instinctively,

lian said firml

stretch of road. Waves crashed faintly in t

e it happens,

reath hitc

es

lled

nd was sharp, cutting through Regina's thin jacket. Her he

pened th

r-twisted metal, scorched

an hour ago," Julian said quietly. "No

ed at it, h

ng me to die

Julian corrected. "But you ca

ettled into

t of medic

r par

sha's

ose name she

wn her face, carr

to disappear,"

closer. "You

-

ed fast a

age. Regina watched numbly as he tore a strand of her hair free

," Julian s

e

d. "You were made to endur

d faintly in

he u

sitated o

turned

-

e headlines we

GRAY DAUGHTER DEA

EIRESS MEETS

was unide

ory wa

y mourned

ried on

d each other like

Gray ceas

-

all, quiet room

ed of antiseptic and salt. A single

sat n

id softly. "You're

eiling, tears slipping

I now?"

folder on the

was a p

ew

n Will

now," Julian said. "No

one hand resting prote

ay died t

far more dange