le blanket on the cot doing nothing to block the draft from the window. Her head pounded,

, and shuffled out into the hallway. The smell of bacon and coffee drifte

ble. The breakfast spread was impressive: scrambled eggs, cris

His eyes narrowed at her flushed face, but h

ick," he said, pointing a fork at

orframe, trying to keep the

h manufactured sorrow. "Kasie, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. Ever since the accident, my

fectly rehearsed gesture. "He suggested we do

kening thud. They wanted her to be a donor. They wanted to ca

e clinic has an opening for a preliminary compatibility screening this mornin

sn't the fever; it was the sheer audacity of the deman

e hoarse. "I need to rest. And you can't

dishes rattled. "You don't have a choice!

he kitchen in two strides and grabbed Kasie's arm. His grip was bruising,

t's

e on the steering wheel. Calista sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window with a t

led into a gas station. "I

gine running. The silence

losed, trying to brea

ling sorry f

r seat. The soft, vulnerable mask was gone. In its pla

, her tone mocking. "Wake up, Kasie. From the day the Foremans

ed by the sudden shift. "W

band." Calista ticked them off on her fingers. "

em. Brandan, Jefferson, Jaime. They love me. They t

word barely a whisper. "

ce. You act like you deserve the world. Why you? Why did Clemence pr

med. Brandan stepped out

shed, replaced by trembling lips and shining eyes. She tu

ce cracking. "Kasie is so angry.

g Kasie's shocked gaze. He slammed his foot on the ga

incing as the needle went in for a simple blood draw, her frail body trembling. When

Kasie, who was sitting pale and sweating in the waiting chair. "Lo

Kasie sat there, the fever burning through her veins, realizing that in this