suffocating air of the office pressed down on her lungs. She grabbed her tote

hit her face. Suddenly, her phone vibrated

ce's name was flashing. Adaline's stomach churned. Sh

hrough the speaker, offering no greeting. "I need

t Bea, please. I just need a one-month extension. I lost m

Just like your father. You have until Friday, Adaline. If the money

her throat, choking her words.

p abruptly. The

alls were closing in, crushing her ribs. A sudden, intrusive thought flashed

the pathetic thought. She would not se

ock and caught a bus headi

ray city blur by through the dirty window.

h the sterile white corridors toward the ICU

ing her in the hallway. His expression was sympa

lling statement. "I'm sorry. Angus's latest experimental treatment

e-figure number printed at the bottom made her visio

r and shoved it into her pocket. "I understand, Dr. Va

to Angus's room. The rhythmic beeping of the he

sing and falling slowly in his sleep. Adaline reached out and gently squeezed his

her voice cracking. She leaned down and kissed

the hospital. She took the subway do

uniform mechanically. Her body felt like lead. She wa

mahogany counter with a damp rag. The bar was

t door chimed. Adaline looked up ou

and stopped movi

y tailored plain black suit. He looked completely sob

ctly toward Adaline's station and sat down

nuckles turning white. "How did you find m

eck," Kory stated flatl

dangerous. He was a phantom who had effortlessly bypassed the walls of her private life, tracking her down to a dark alley bar in a city of eight million peop

eached inside his tailored jacket and pul

ooden counter and slid it across the s

of our encounter," Kory said, his voice cu

uch the folder. She stared at the thick stack of paper, deep suspici