mien's phone like

be with you.

heart slammed against her

ietly, locking the scree

than the message. Because people only looked lik

" she mumbled, g

li

k. "Whatever this is,

lready

toppe

at suppose

face. "You don't just 'get found' by someone like this. He doesn't

wrong-nervous, sharp. "Are

yes. "I'm trying t

ilence

In the distance, the city carried on l

hem, everyth

her grip on he

. "But I think you've been watc

an down h

-

go home t

coul

to a hotel. Not to his plac

with dark wind

she could ask. "She's out o

up at the building. The wind whi

st some elaborate kidnapping

, Alina, I would've done it yesterday. Or at lunc

look. "That w

locked the door a

ide were soft, warm. Nothing threatening-just clean furnitur

safe. It made

eople easily

. "I just know h

ew phone. Sleek.

"Where'd yo

connec

ode for 'I

"Do you want

t. Of cour

-

est bed, staring at the ceiling. Th

e mean, 'H

ow who he was. She

him more than most peop

gically,

the blanket tighter, bu

l after

then-it d

-

nd wo

ic

door

at up i

beyond the cracked door even

rabbing her new phone.

h

bu

otifi

er: Still th

d turned

came a sec

Sle

ross th

a breath and spu

bo

nd ran to the door. Locked.

ne had be

had watc

eone was still p

-

ake when she stormed

t her face and sto

ne with shaking hand

His jaw clenched. "Whe

tated. "

ssword pr

es

imly. "He cloned it. He h

stomach

t h

a café the night we me

no

gets in. One connection, one

, louder this time. "Why not

didn't

time, he did

wasn't

pressed. "Te

esit

ou look

a fr

ho

sist

er than thunder

couch like he'd j

o. Same texts. Same warnings. S

outh, a chill crawl

ver," he said softl

-

hone buzz

dn't wan

she

screamed too. Want

pped th

it before it

sage wa

as

had neve