all panel, punched in the code for the hidden safe, and shoved the papers inside. The h

y wooden door and pressed her face close t

him into a small consultation room across the hall. The door didn't click shut completely. Alaya

is voice low, but the narrow opening ca

tor said, his voice trembling slightly. "The damage is irreversible.

nt, involuntary jerk. The fingers of his right

nd. When he opened them, the cold, dead sta

k for her transplanted heart?" Hardy

r. The cardiac tissue is stable. Her lifes

ndifferent, as if the fact that his wife could never h

tom pain in her transplanted heart flared, mixing with a suffocating, crushing despair.

, Hardy's private

d glanced at the screen. His fa

t, Silas, who was standing a few feet away. Hardy made a sharp

. He spun on his heel and walked rapidly toward the

he corner. Her lips curled into a bitter, self-mocking smile. She thought she was numb to him, but hearing

the room. She glanced at the door and gasped, startled by t

the nurse by the forearm. She yanked Je

tack of hundred-dollar bills she kept for emerg

aya ordered, her voice completely flat. "Find

My boyfriend works in the underground dispatch

o

e edge of the leather sofa. She picked up a sealed alcohol wipe

nings slipped back i

ings whispered. "The GPS tracker s

the exact brick building. It was the cheap apartment rented by K

from the drawer into Jennings's

e nodded

ndle and let the freezing water run over her hands. She splashe

gown. The woman in the mirror had zero affection left in he

. She took a deep breath, forcing her lungs to exp

the second ring. "Alaya? Sw

father's voice made Alaya's throat close

ars back down. "I'm fine, Dad. The

nes. She did not mention Hardy rushing off to his mistress. Her father's bl

you tomorrow,

he manor. I'll

phone. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing in the name of

ad

the license plate of the Maybach. She type

hit

sh of lightning illuminated her face in the dark room, casting sharp, terrifying s