How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Watts was gone.

Elodie's expression slowly regained its composure. Lowering her gaze, she pressed her fingernails into the back of her hand, forcing her thoughts into sharper focus.

Everything she'd just heard was nothing but Watts's word no proof, no evidence.

There was no way she'd let herself be dragged back to his country just like that. And abandoning Jarrod without any explanation? Out of the question.

She heard the click of the lock turning outside the door.

Only after she was sure Watts had walked away did she reach deep into her pocket and pull out her hidden phone.

It was powered on now. Apart from a flickering screen, it seemed to be working.

She moved to the window, searching for a signal.

Just one bar-weak and unreliable.

The signal kept flickering, fading in and out.

A knot of frustration tightened in her chest. She knew she couldn't afford to wait here much longer.

All she could do was put her hope in the phone.

Upstairs, Watts's mood was tangled and dark.

He poured himself a glass of whiskey, but hadn't taken a sip when his phone rang.

at the number and

voice reported, "Mr. Aldridge, it looks

on the glass

violent edge flashed

He was genuinely surprised.

anyone survive a situation like that-caught in a perfect trap

How did Jarrod escape?

he could ask, the voice on

Aldridge. We dug up something interesting. We've been tracking Jarrod's international movements. He travels a lot, which isn't odd for someone in his position. But our latest analysis shows that, for several months,

does that mean?"

Jarrod has set up some kind of facility in New York—a clinic specializing in embryo transfer

froze in shock, the glass halfway to his

was close to midnight by the time Fleming Mercer and his

hadn't slept a wink. At the sound of engines, she rushed outside, wrapped

her when she

down it wasn't

such a dangerous situation, but waiting for orders and backup would have. wasted precious time.

watched anxiously as the door

Jarrod stepping off the plane, Esmeralda immediately scanned the crowd

No sign of Elodie.

fell. "You haven't found

Fleming met Esmeralda's worried

fiercely loyal to her friends—Elodie