How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

She said the words out loud, but deep down, she was terrified.

That place was dangerous enough on its own, and now, with Quinn hunting him, what were Jarrod's real chances of making it out alive?

Panic crashed over her, her heart hammering so hard it hurt.

She refused to accept it.

Watts straightened, looming over her from above. "What's done is done. Why force something that's already broken? Elodie, it's time to wake up. Men's flaws run deep-you can't change them, can't redeem them. If he's failed you once, he'll do it again."

He knew Elodie wasn't ready to face the possibility of Jarrod dying out there.

But it didn't matter.

Barring a miracle, the outcome was all but certain.

Elodie didn't want to hear another word. She spun on her heel and headed for the

car.

She'd find Jarrod herself.

needed to see for herself that he

between his fingers inside his pocket, then strode after her

struggled, but he

her back toward

furious, clawing at his collar with both hands.

her to the

her usual calm or spar with

was to

what schemes

but dragged her back to her room. He didn't linger or touch her more than necessary; he set her down by the bed, gazing down at her. "Don't look at me like that. I've already requested a flight route. Tomorrow or the day after, I'll take you home on a

closely. "Maybe you'll be back

family's obituary

sound casual, his words cut like a

didn't believe him. Still,

me?!" she shot back,

shrug. “I realized something I really do like you, Elodie.

say exactly what he wanted,

That wasn't his style.

to blame Patricia for making him distrustful of most people.

understood a little of what Patricia