Insistent, demanding, the rhythm of

picke

e same way he'd reach for a scalpel or a suture. His thumb slid across the sc

nd eager, filled the speaker. "I've been trying to reach

indis

"Who is this? W

he city that continued without regard for the drama unfolding in this roo

"Who the hell do you think

etch. "Ah. Yes. Arthur Fletcher. Age fifty-three. History of hypertension, elevated PSA, and-" He clicked his tongue, consulting a mental file that didn't exist. "A man who relies

w dar

ge with promises of yacht trips and investment portfolios." Jasper's voice dropped, became something almos

table where it landed with a crack that made him wince-old habit, Elek ha

e was

linked, once, twice, and awareness flooded her expression-confus

winced, looked down at the I

Dehydration. Exhaustion." He listed the diagnoses like ingredients. "Yo

nding the edge of the blanket an

't wanted it. Gratitude implied debt, and debt implied con

d at the foot of the bed where she had to l

, showing something underneath-shame, m

d

pped. Started again

ake her body without tenderness. "You're under contract. Your body is-" He gestured, encompassing the bed, the IV, the situation. "-relevant to my

mean my son's life? You mean the child you're forcing me to conceive so you can-" She laughed, a broken so

ensur

ade her sway. "You're using me. Using my son. Using-" She stopped, swallowed, and when she spok

m, and her eyes-green, like his, like Elek's-were wide and wild. "Tell me what I don't know, Denice. Tell me why you married m

at looked like surrender. Like confession. Like the truth he'd been chasing since he woke up in this

e door

Denice's face transformed. The wildness vanished

hing