elentless downpour. The cold seeped through her silk dress, a chilling emb

d, she

now nervously wiping down the cou

ut through the sound of the

rrowing in annoyance at this new delay. He saw his wife, so

a tentative finger at her own chest, her e

tone leaving no room for argument. "Do

, then at the impossibly luxurious car, and finally back at the strange, beautiful woman beckoning to her. She shook

girl waiting for a bus alone in this weather, in this part of town? You'll catch your death

are you doing? Get in the car." He did not entertain strangers. He especially

ignored him

cking ominously on the wet pavement. Before Catalina could protest further,

d, her grip firm.

and toward the car. She wrenched open the front passenger door and, wit

own door, slid into the plush leather seat,

scended up

rs. The air was suddenly heavy with the scent of Catalina's vanilla body wash, a sweet, cloyi

ith a sharp, disgusted motion, he pressed the button to lo

his eyes darting nervously in the rea

ture of serene composure. "Ask our guest," she sai

g to make herself smaller. "Um, Brooklyn," she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. She ga

finally

en jump. "Evangeline," he said, his voice dangerously low, each wor

e. "I'm performing a random act of kindness, Kellan. It's a concept you

to glacial. This was not his wife. His wife was pliant, predictable. This woman wa

al. She opened her mouth to say something, perhaps to

the address.

ent U-turn, heading away from the glittering towers of Midtown and toward the dist

t after a moment, his gaze shifted, his eyes flicking to the rearvie

ive glance, filled with

mirror. The intensity of his cold stare was like a physical blow. She gasped softly and imm

A small, cruel smile touched her lips. She pulled out her phone, pretending to

ntroduction

reached up and, with a single, vicious tug, loosened his tie as if it

preamble. "Cancel it. Tell them

ure, unadulterated triumph washed over Evangeline. Sh

rs gave way to graffiti-covered brick walls and rundown storefro