black spots in Ivana's vision grew

ing on the hot metal. Her knees buckled, and she slid down to th

in a suit stepped around her

was a mother. She was a s

-eight degrees. Gannon sat in the back seat,

woman on the curb th

pale, a stark contrast to the angry red ma

" Ganno

med Thomas, hesitated. "Si

ped. "She's a con artist, T

idn't lo

he reached into her bag. She p

It clattered onto the sidewalk and rolled,

er shoulders slumped. It was

his chest. A sharp, anno

head betwe

pass out," Tho

ath. He threw the file onto

k the

ock c

ldn't. If he touched her, he

r," he

wave of heat rus

rms. Strong, firm hands.

miss," a v

ted up. The

e door slammed shut. The noise of the street vanished, replaced

ed, tryin

car. A very e

ked to

st the far door, as if h

k," h

bottle of Evian

he water. Her thr

hand shook so much she c

the bottle from her, twisted the cap off with a

e choked, water spilling down

expression was unreadabl

own," h

he bottle. She

ou," she

spond. He looked

rolonged growl. It was a mons

s around her midsecti

k to her. He lowe

ave for your next Ch

She didn't have the

console. He pulled out

d it int

ying in my car. The pape

the box. La Ma

art st

ction. Specifically, the

ay night. They would sit on his r

remember? Or was this ju

he smell of rich dark

She popped it

The tart raspberry, the bitter cocoa. It taste

nother. A

watched a speck of chocolate ad

looked away abruptly

you staying

ed. "A motel.

coffed.

ition glass. "Thomas,

headrest. The sugar was helpin

softly. "Why di

a scene. And it reflects poorly on the company if my

er you

ng, but she a

hone

ud in the

the screen.

answer, Mrs. Higgins might l

utton, intending to put

ipped. She hit t

om

oice fill