e settle her racing heart into a slow, steady beat. She adjusted her mask, took

dn't end for

her other patients, her voice calm, her hands steady. When colleagues offered a conc

s. I'm

familiar weigh

not towards the parking garage where her sensible sedan was parked, but to

dn't g

ity center. An apartment she'd bought with money from her own fa

sanc

g on every single light. The stark white walls and minimalist furniture felt

r phone and diale

ring, her voice sharp and awake even

," Kayli said, her voice

of the line. Then, Chloe's voice, low and furiou

she could stand it. She scrubbed her skin until it was raw, trying to wash away the

pped in a plush robe, staring out the fl

She was carrying a bottle of expensive

the suitcases by the door. She moved to the ki

the first time all night, she let the exhaustion show on her face. She

ry word. When Kayli finished, Chloe let out a str

e asked, her tone shifting to pragmatic. "The Bonner

ment. The city lights reflected in her gray-b

piece of damp hair behind her ear, a habit she had when her mind was made up.

ing towards the sprawling, sterile mansion in

opened the door, her face a mi

ner called. He won't be home tonight. He's st

ion, were just another confirmatio

lmly. "I'm just here to

ing silently behind her. She bypassed the master bedroom, a room that ha

dbags, the velvet-lined drawers of jewelry Brody had bought h

ew pairs of scrubs. Her favorite jeans. The worn-out sweat

worn wooden case. It held the few things her mother had left

thes with a quiet efficiency. In les

ind a painting and pulled out a thick manila envelope. She'd had her lawyer draw

e was decorated in shades of gray and chrome, a testamen

orce agreement f

y in the middle of th

one Brody used for his celebratory cigars-and set it on top o

elt like a lifetime spent in someone else's skin. There w

gone for a while. If you need to send any of Leo's things,

expression confused. She likely t

uitcases behind them. The sound of the wheels on the sto

home. He was exhausted. Carly had been demanding and t

gone to the hospital early, sulking. It annoyed him that s

the living room, loosening his tie. He was about to pour h

ope, held down

ion crossing his face. More paperwork

ut the docu

scanned t

e Agre

gh the pages, his movements jerky. P

to the f

tom, was her sign

and. As if she were signing a presc