cracke

, illuminating the desolate highway in a strobe of harsh white light. Thund

he wat

clinging to her skeletal frame like a second skin. The cold wasn't just on the surface; it

throbbed. Her lef

lastic bag against her stomach to keep the notebook dry. Tha

wn sludge over her legs. Clarisa flinched, stepp

as slicke

down into a drainage ditch h

n

keningly loud, ev

attracted the guards, and the guards brought pain. Instead, she bit her

lready swelling, pushing against

rself. Her voice was lost

ts danced in her vision. She fell back d

the darkness behind her. Xenon

for a single, stark moment as she looked up. Let it be a str

ine purr was low, power

silver Rolls-Royce Phantom. She knew tha

ered against h

br

, angular, carved from marble and just as cold. Ambrose Montgomery

cheek, trying to hide. She

arried effortlessly over the storm.

his charity. Not after he stood by and w

a scheduling error in his day. "Don't make me sen

pty threats. He was a defense c

r options. Hypothe

ose su

leg. She hopped toward the car, gritting her

holding a large black umbr

way from his hand, nearly falling in th

river

dle herself and pulled h

e edge of the cream-colored leather seat, trying to keep her muddy clothes

st the door, as far away

ossed, a tablet on his lap. He looked at her ankle. It w

He looked at the hollows of her chee

sked. One wor

blurring rain. She didn't answer. S