Chapter 31

When we finally reach the black sedan, Kent and Daniel climb into the back seat on either side of me, sandwiching me in the middle. Pressed between them, I fold my hands between my knees and try my best to breathe evenly. “Go,” Kent says firmly to Carlos, who obediently peels out. Kent continues to look out the window, surveying the landscape for any more threats which he didn’t catch the first time.

Daniel, instead, turns to me. He takes my face in my hands and carefully looks me over. When he ascertains that I’m not scratched or bruised, he moves on to the rest of my body, putting a hand on my knee and taking me in. “How are you, Fay?” he asks quietly. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m f-f-fine,” I say, shivering a little. I don’t know whether it’s shock still, or perhaps the cold –

Suddenly, I remember my beautiful mink stole – still in the coat check at the country club. I turn backwards to look out the rear window with a little “oh,” regretting the loss of it.

“What,” Kent says, worried, following my gaze. I instantly feel guilty – here he is, looking for assassins wielding guns or blades and here I am, sorry to have lost my coat.

“N-nothing,” I say, looking up at him. I notice that he’s still clutching his arm and that blood is still seeping from behind his hand.