Chapter 1 - THE NAME SHE REFUSED TO SAY
“Who did this to you?”
Mara’s good eye dropped away from Adrian’s face.
That frightened him more than any answer could have.
“Please,” she whispered. “Just call an ambulance.”
“It’s already coming.”
Her head snapped toward him.
“No.”
“Mara.”
“No hospitals.”
Adrian stared at her.
“You may have broken ribs.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“I said no hospital.”
There was panic beneath the words.
Not stubbornness.
Panic.
Adrian had spent decades learning the difference.
He lowered his voice.
“Are you afraid whoever did this will find you there?”
Mara said nothing.
That was answer enough.
Sirens sounded outside.
She grabbed his sleeve.
“Please.”
Adrian looked at her trembling fingers.
Then he made a decision.
He called Noah.
“Bring Dr. Keene to the house.”
A pause.
“Your house?”
“Yes.”
“Who’s hurt?”
Adrian looked at Mara.
“Someone important.”
He ended the call.
Mara heard the words.
Her expression changed.
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“I noticed.”
“No. You really shouldn’t have.”
Adrian carefully lifted her.
Pain crossed her face, but she didn’t cry out.
She weighed less than he expected.
That bothered him too.
He carried her through the wrecked apartment.
At the front door, she suddenly twisted.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“My bag.”
Adrian saw a plain canvas purse beneath the overturned chair.
He retrieved it.
The strap was torn.
Inside were a wallet, keys, a cheap phone, and a photograph.
Adrian only saw it because the photograph slipped onto the floor.
A younger Mara stood beside a man in a dark police uniform.
Her arm was around him.
Both were smiling.
On the back, written in faded ink:
MARA & JONAH
FOREVER, LITTLE SISTER.
Adrian looked at her.
“Your brother?”
Her face drained.
“Give me that.”
He handed it over immediately.
“Where is he?”
“Dead.”
“How?”
Mara shoved the photograph into her bag.
“Please stop asking questions.”
Adrian carried her downstairs.
Outside, rain covered the street in silver.
He placed her carefully into the passenger seat of his car.
Before he closed the door, Mara grabbed his wrist.
Her eyes were terrified.
“Adrian.”
It was the first time in three years she had used his first name.
“What?”
“If anyone asks, you never found me here.”
His expression hardened.
“Why?”
“Because the man who did this thinks I’m dead.”
Adrian went very still.
May you like
Then Mara whispered:
“And if he finds out I survived, he’ll come for you too.”
