“Let us go. The car is waiting downstairs.”

We walked past Paul, who glared up at me with a mix of fury and pleading.

“You don’t know what she’s doing!” Paul hissed, spit flying from his lips. “She’s ruining everything!”

Vincent did not even look down at him.

“Silence him,” Vincent said quietly to his men.

One of the men struck Paul again, and the apartment went completely quiet.

Vincent led me down the dark, narrow stairwell of the building.

The cool night air hit my face as we stepped out into the alley.

A black sedan waited at the curb, its exhaust rising like steam in the rain.

The driver quickly opened the rear door.

Vincent helped me slide into the leather seat, then got in beside me.

“We are going to a private clinic,” Vincent said as the doors shut, sealing out the sound of the storm.

“Dr. Hale is already waiting for us there.”

I leaned my head back against the leather.

“Thank you,” I breathed.

Vincent stared straight ahead into the dark street.

“Do not thank me yet, Lena,” he said.