Chapter 3 - THE WOMAN WHO HAD NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE
Richard Jensen stood near the baggage claim exit.
I saw him through the glass partition.
Tall.
Blond.
Wearing the navy coat I'd bought him for our fifth anniversary.
He looked like any other tired husband waiting for his family.
Except I knew what happened when he stopped smiling.
Two men stood beside him.
I recognized one.
His business partner, Victor Hale.
The other wore a dark suit and kept checking his phone.
My stomach tightened.
Dante stood beside me.
“Is that him?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He studied Richard.
Then looked at me.
“Do you want to speak to him?”
“No.”
“Then you don't have to.”
My eyes filled.
Dante turned toward an airport security officer.
The officer listened carefully.
Then arranged for us to leave through a different exit while documenting Richard's presence.
I held Maya close.
Leonardo slept in his stroller.
For a strange moment, the four of us looked like a family.
The thought frightened me.
Because I had no business imagining anything about Dante Salvatore.
He was dangerous.
Powerful.
And completely outside my world.
At the curb, Dante stopped.
“Clare.”
I looked up.
“Yes?”
“Where's your cousin?”
I checked my phone.
Jenny had sent three messages.
The last one read:
I'm so sorry. Richard called my landlord. I can't let you stay here.
My knees weakened.
Dante noticed.
“What is it?”
I showed him.
He read the message.
Then looked at me.
“Do you have somewhere else to go?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
Maya tugged my sleeve.
“Mommy, are we going home?”
May you like
I looked at my daughter.
And realized I had no answer.
