ca

York does not wa

akes the

the deluge soaked my dress instantly, plastering the c

ng, but not f

ring from t

uzzed agai

down at t

he hospi

. Too soft. "It's time. Your gran

simply

was al

this wretched world who l

ng," I ch

a cab, waving my

them s

terical girl crying on

thony's number befor

s a r

been my emergency contac

d on the s

" he s

receiver. "My grandmother. She's dyin

a beat o

inct clink of

right, cruel laugh

d, his tone dripping with anno

ed, my voice cracking. "

," he

ne wen

e in disbelief as th

I dropped to my knee

cre

tore through my th

s stopped in m

k combat boots

oked

ding there, to

cle in a dark jacket with

look like

d like a

d out

the skin rough

p," he

like gravel grinding

y," I whispered

oney," he said flat

wait for m

tless strength and opened the door

?" he

ospital," I m

ofessional-fast, s

ask why I

ask who ha

ust

ed in te

re the car had fu

or, my wet shoes sq

down t

into t

n the bed, diminished by

in was

g was a wet,

hand; it was

, her eyelids flutteri

ved An

t he was a

t I was sa

tell her

die knowing I was a

he bile risin

d her han

smile. "He's parking the car. He s

sm

fragile thing,

. "You are safe. My

yes c

ttle s

long, high-pitched ton

head on

dn't

done c

thing insid

ooling in a mold, setting

f the room ten

er was st

the wall, flipping a co

gone,"

nod

offer fake

o now?"

id hollowly. "I

rk eyes gleaming with a

edding to att

m sharply. "Ho

e," he said. "I kn

ded me

ck. A phone numb

to burn it down,"

d and wa

d at th

ooked at

ed Ins

ew photo on B

her and

ing champagne

*Finally getting

ed my s

a dec

go to th

play the

I would de