still racing with numbers and deadlines. The cashier, a chatty woma

terfront?" Patty said in a loud whisper. "Big fight the other night

an, of the blood on his knuckles. He had seemed fine, b

knuckles. She told herself it was none of her business. He was a violent, dangerous

door, her hand raised to knock on the door of 4B.

alski's project. She sketched for hours, but her designs were lif

h anatomical studies, was in her friend Sarah's car. Sarah had dropp

d given her. As the cab pulled up, she

r's Aut

as. Julian. He was leaning against a grease-stained desk, talking to an older mechanic, pointing at something on a blueprint.

on of a second before his expression became a cool, ind

young man at the front desk, Ricky

n the face. It stung more

a friend's car," she said, keeping h

rning his attention back to the blueprin

Julian spoke again. "Wait." He looked up, his eyes finally meeting

entley, the silence between them thick and uncomfortable. She wanted to a

okay?" she asked ins

aid. His tone was

then his phone rang, the name "Carter Sin

, his hands tightened on the steering wheel, and a co

his voice laced with a venom s

he let out a short, harsh laugh. "Don't tell me

silence that followed was a thousand times heavier

s gone, replaced by someone brittle and wounded. She realized

e?" she ventur

elf-mocking bitterness. "I don't have a fa

. Afterwards, instead of calling a cab, he just started walking. Chloe fell into

a world he clearly despised but was somehow connected to. And for the first time, looking a