His voice was smooth, entirely unaffected by the cold wind.

“Tell her how you handed me your watch.”

“Tell her how you walked out of your own life.”

Alexander’s hand trembled against my shoulder, his weight heavy and warm.

“They were going to kill you, Claire,” Alexander said.

He coughed, a deep, rattling sound in his chest.

“Who?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“My father’s old associates,” Alexander said.

“The ones who controlled the offshore accounts.”

“They found out about our marriage in Italy.”

“They called them the cleaners,” Alexander whispered.

He looked down at the wet asphalt, unable to meet my eyes.

“They were going to make sure you disappeared, Claire.”

“So you disappeared instead?” I asked.

The rain felt like needles on my face.

“It was supposed to be temporary,” Alexander said.

“Just three weeks.”

“Just enough time for Julian to sign the restructuring papers and divert their attention.”

Julian let out a short, sharp laugh.

The sound was dry and completely devoid of humor.

“And it worked beautifully,” Julian said.

“Until Alexander realized I had no intention of giving the keys back.”