ressing in on her. She tried to breathe, to push the events of the

onal mask. "Will you be needing anything els

s a tight, aching knot. The though

thank

nsteady. Leaving the hotel felt like a retreat from a battl

er out of her daze. She stood under the hotel's ornate awning, fumbling

r cheeks burning. She didn't want to

evolving door pushe

arc

taller, more imposing. The doorman, a man with a face lik

t. Your car

froze, phone in hand, praying he wo

lined up. It was a vintage Bentley S2 Continental, its deep, British racing green paint gleaming under

topped b

ew tha

ting with a reclusive collector in Switzerland. She'd had it secret

is first anni

him the keys. A rare, genuine flash of surprise and

it. He was st

ysical blow, knockin

driven them to their wedding. He saw Althea, and a complicated emotion-pity? recog

lished roof of the car, and landed directly

just stood there, the city li

ride?" h

doorman heard it. Frank heard it. It was a casual question,

eep up her neck. She was acutely aw

en, to complete the Uber request. She lifted he

ou. My car i

She hadn't been able to afford

Damarcus's lips. He saw right

ght nod, then bent his tall frame and

isfying thud, sealing him away in

the passenger seat. Tiffany hadn't left after all. She had been wa

Althea's heart,

a low, powerful purr. It merged seamlessly into the

r Uber is arriving no

smelled faintly of air freshener and old coffee. The chasm bet

tching the glittering towers of Manhattan slide by. She felt