e's

n morning and ni

t in the house that had become a prison. Every creak of the floorboards echoed like a threat, tau

ed, hidden in the shadows, like

he motions as if nothing was wrong. But inside, my nerves were fra

arlier, his messag

sag

tact:M

nner, I will

is words, just his absences. That was the only reason I'd dared set the pickup for eleven. The later it

just simple tops and jeans. My ID, bank cards, a small wad of cash I'd quietly saved over

er minute, the glowing numbers mocking my desperation. My chest felt tight, as my legs restless, the familiar ac

every detail in my head. How I'd slip past the security cameras, how I'd avoid the neighbors,

phone buzzed sharply a

sag

act: RE

Black SUV, don't

Rescue team, because you really don't

ry. My hand went to my belly automatically, as if I could shiel

told myself, the word

ldn't click against the marble floor. Every shadow seemed to stretch and twist into somethi

gers hovered over the lock, heart pounding

out, closing the door behind me with slow, and quiet moves,

engine humming low in the stillness. The tinted window on the passenger s

of my married name. I nodded, sw

His face was mostly hidden in shadow, but his eyes flicked over me wit

d simply, rea

d. "I can

for me. I slid inside, and the door shut behind me

city lights blurring past the window as we mov

the driver asked af

, turning toward hi

hint of a smile. "He's not going to c

his voice sent a shiver down my

ing this," I said carefully, eyes

going to? Let's just say he's been waiting

care what ha

dable, but there was something sharp in them, like a blade hidden beneath

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked

hen we get th

ressed my back into the seat, trying to slow my breathing. Every turn w

es, the city light

phone buzzed. He answ

h me," he

rough, low and deliberate

dead before

he driver's head, my hear

"You'll meet him soon enough." And

d entrance. The driver leaned out to punch in a code, an

t looked more like an apartment than a mansion. But it is

nce. The driver got out, came around, and open

mewhere behind it was the man I'd called for help, my husband's sworn enem

aid, nodding toward t

eep breath, and stepped toward the doo