the edge of a cheap mattress in

or a fleeting moment to check a sa

t the hospital keeping me compa

ngs turned to ice. She locked the screen,

pital in Manhattan. She pulled her coat collar up and kep

glass doors, she walked straig

ge security guards stepped in f

oice muffled by her collar. "Cindy J

o bypass Conrad's general lockdown. She looked Elisa up and down with a judgmental sneer a

orridor. The thick carpet ab

e end of the hall. The heavy wooden

e door. She stood perfectly still

d up against lace pillows, wearing a silk h

a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. His large, powerf

y whispered, her voice trembling. "T

er shoulders in, pressing he

hand. He stroked Cindy's hair.

a tone Elisa had never heard directed at her. "I

ough wet eyelashes. "Do you think Eli

vanished from his face, replaced by pure venom. "Elisa

nd I woke up was the best decision I've ever made. As so

lt as if a giant hand had reached through her

r shoulder blades hit the col

nge flames ripped through her brain. She saw her own hands, covered

behind her temples. The traum

hed. The lingering ache in her chest evapor

of vulnerability d

e collar of her coat. Her move

ote bag. Inside rested a thick stack of legal

her pointed heel directly at th