o a car. The door sl

rk. Dominic sat

ld catch her b

ghter is

clenched. "Wha

intercepted them." Dominic's

. Something surge

shoulder. Once. Twice. Dominic

hand up and caught both her wrists. He twist

hit the seat.

p. His fingers tightened. His knuckles groun

oug

lifted her knee and dro

th his hand and pressed it down. Her leg got tra

me

. He turned his head. Her knuckles grazed his jaw. He grabb

in his grip. She was o

e was low, right

at him, che

aken her from the star

u have be

aid n

at. Red marks circled her wrists. His finge

between you and Wenger?

look out the windo

daughter to the

N

"You said s

't mean she

not seei

d the car for

said finally. "If she shows up i

six. Sh

t leave y

She knew this was t

in

. Tell him y

umb hovered over the dial butto

call. For

s gaze. "Yo

answer. He just

ger's voice came throu

ve

Dominic. He mo

ming,"

"Did you give

es

firm

d under him for her PhD. Done research. Written papers

ed him g

ughed. A

arehouse. We'll talk

ne wen

ic let out a short breat

to." She didn

ey were on the roa

thing," Do

oked a

r is already

"You said f

was fo

d in front of

glanced back. Dominic sat in th

ger sat in a wheelchai

he d

Avery

stared

nervous, you make a fist. You've done it

right hand. Her finge

x now," Wenger said.

steps

ld Wenger her da

oked in

" Wenger coughed. "Why do you think

't say a

dead. You cam

l records, your research, your l

e side. It wasn't a smile.

it all disappears. No one w

loosened. Then

er looked at her. "You

he wheelchair armre

at it was connected to, her l

nger yell

er footsteps echoed t

ck. It threw her forward several steps. She crashed into the warehouse's

r ears. The s

on her hands and looke

out through sh

as still

were so weak she alm

her ears like a needle stuck in h

She ran a few steps, but he

gainst the door, looking down at his phone

r knees and gasped for air.

ran f

ds on her knees.

igur

records wou

ic no

picked the

away and opened the

to say something else, but her head was fu

a, Avery ran through the front door. Sh

s my da

traight ahead. H

lled, "Dominic! Whe

ced off the wa

min

cked. Sharp and hoarse. Her brea

otsteps behind her. He looked at her f

M

is my d

s. His eyes showed noth

ked deeper into the hallway. After a few

low

s at a time. She didn't know how long th

topped in fr

to push it open. His arm

tions

red at him. He leaned against th

he listened to her own heartbeat. H

my room

e drea

tepped aside and gestured t

door. Her daught

had been in there. If she w

ait for this devil to say yes. She forced her te

.Fi

finally

Dorothea had a pile of blocks in front of her.

ed. The little

om

ulled Dorothea into her arms. The girl's body went stiff for a

hed her skin. Only then di

the doorway. His gaze went past

nctively shielded the back of

clock,"

ore time, then closed the d

ed on top of her daughter's head.

was muffled agai

ck and looked a

alls. Double

t l

. Her eyes fixed on something Avery couldn't see. A few second

l. L

port floated up in her memory. Sensory overload.

at her. She put her hand o

own. Her heart

rity footage filled the panels. Dominic sat deep i

os

s. Drake

in the ICU. He

ove. "What did t

en he'll wake up

other. His primary doctor, Lin. He was picked

ingers stop

East Pier got held up. The south side logistics route was

ch did

Drake stopped. "Someone ins

creens. The door on the east side of the

em. Thre

s,

urned t

came from behind him. "East side

y. He acknowledged

ep, Avery walked to Dominic's door with

door. She hesitated. Before sh

me, arms crossed. He wore a dark grey cot

he had been waiting a long time. Or like he had kn

d. Then he turned

ld. She followed him to

he oversized bed, her fist

ce down to her clenched fists. He paused for

vil smiled. A s

nd bolted. A muffled expl