ve was

arview mirror. Clare sat in the passenger seat, her damaged hands clenched in her la

flat command. Not "congratulatio

try roads. The trees closed in around them, their branch

lare finally asked, her

," Chase said. "

mountain. The car bounced over rocks and ruts. There were no lig

ut. He killed the engine. The sudden silence was

oard lights, his face looked like a stranger's.

said. His voice was calm, reasonable. L

" she repe

months. The project launches in

und so simple

wanted this," she stammered.

I decide the time is right. This is messy. Uncontro

stomach turned to ice.

A little setback. Karis told me what hap

's name, the look in his eyes.

ealization hitting her with the for

mething. Your career... it was giving you ideas outside of us.

man she thought was her savior, was a monster.

f the car,

him, uncompreh

ou to think. Think about what I've given you. Think about how easily I can take it all away.

the passenger door, and gave

d out onto

He closed the door, started

ne in the crushing darkness and the suffocating silence. The