corners of his mouth up into a stiff, unnatural smile. He step

ars. She hid her mud-caked hands behind her back, he

I'm taking you home. Back to New York. To a big house. We

excitement lit up her face. She pulled her hands from behind her

ter splashed up, hitting H

together. His fingers twitched. He forced his h

the rotting cabin. She pushed the wooden door. It s

nto the frame, the idiot smil

cles. Her spine straightened. Her eye

turned the rusted knob. Brown water sputtered out. She scrubbed

floor. She knelt, her fingers digging into

ation device. It was no bigger than a coin, matte

lipped the device into the hidden lining of

sack from the corner. She shoved th

te breath, letting the icy sharpness in her gaze dissolve into a dull, cloudy ha

hing the plastic sack to her chest

He waved his hand at his driver

ite cotton gloves. He reached out with two fingers, p

ght against her chest and opened her mouth,

ks are inside!" she sobbed,

adache pulsed behind his eyes. "Just

Maybach. Howard grabbed Areli's arm and sho

ing as far to the opposite side o

cream-colored floor mats. The damp, sour smell

o gear and pulled a

indow. She waved frantically at a rotting s

st. The soundproof partition glided

ension. "Listen to me. You are going to be a good girl.

r dirty thumb into her mouth. She chewed on her fingernail. "Rich ma

shut and do what you're told, he can b

across the wide leather seat. Her muddy dress left

back against the headrest, exhausted by her stupidi

steadily alon

deepened into a soft sno

he slid back into he

urred past in a rush of green and brown. Her pupils

fingers brushed against the hard edge of the comms device

w. Her pulse beat steady

t the brake lines on her mother's car ten years ago. She

d billionaire they were selling her t

d silent, save fo

f-swallowed by shadows. The corner of her mo