descended i

lungs. The tears had stopped. In their place was something harder-a cold, stead

straightened her spine, smoothed he

s, whispers trailing after her like shadows. She ignored them. Chin high.

er tear-stained cheeks, tore through her thin bl

swerved toward the curb. A bu

k-the same one that had made

muttered an apol

e backseat. "The Neo

ndow, watching the city blur past in streaks of neon and sh

, social media tags, messages from colleagues she hadn't spoken to in ye

her banking

stomach dropped throug

or Angus. Her chronically ill brother. The reason she'd worked ei

that was supposed to cover it had just evapo

the app. Her

t into the wet alley behind the building, bypassing the front entrance. Ev

odies. She walked to the breakroom, opened her locker, and stripped off her ruined blazer. She pulled on her black bar

m. Pouring. Shaking. Wiping. The physical labor numbed her

s forehead. "Adaline! VIP in Booth Four. He's been asking for t

es, and wound through the crowded dance floor. Drunk patrons l

n the shadows. A man was slumped over the leather sofa, his

ray down. "Sir? D

fingers dug into his da

. She reeked of cheap perfume and bad intentions. She lean

s get you somewhere

ay. The movement was weak, uncoordinate

he bouncer. She saw him watching. With a final g

mmediately-dilated pupils, excessive sweating, err

call security. Y

amped aroun

leeve. She gasped, tried to wrench free, but his fingers on

as deep, strained with agony, yet

eyes unfocused behind generic wire-rimmed glasses. He looked like

rip said

aid, her voice steady

nto her wrist, feeling the frantic beat

iab

was dangerous. And yet, as his fingers tightened around her wrist, something el

walk?"

h effort. He tried to stand.

ly knocking her over. She wrapped his arm around her

ing," she

all, away from the crowd. His hot breath fanned against her nec

She shouldered it open, and the c

brick wall. He turned, swaying, and for a moment

ok like a vi

man who'd been wa