diately silencing the children's chatter. "Oka
t casting curious backward glances. L
ched. He watched her every move with a guarded intensity.
oked like confusion in his eyes. "Where am I?
his eyes just moments before. He was lying. This was a calculated move. He didn
readable. "You were in an accident," she said, her voice cool and clinic
upillary response. "What's t
er leaving her face. "Nothing," he said, his voice l
s is the game we're playing, she thought. Fine. She wasn't g
er," she said smoothly. "R
ids..." he started, his voice casual, but Chloe could feel the weight of the qu
dren," she said,
ssed, his eyes searchi
. "Is that relevant to your medical c
raising a hand to his temple. "No,
d up, clear and matter-of-fact. "We
d, "Uncle, would you be our d
gaze on Chloe intensified, now filled with a thousand unspoken questions. Chloe felt a hot
. Now. I
silence that remained was more c
one of sincere, if feigned, gratitude
welcome. As soon as you're stable, I'll contact th
ne alarm crossed his face before he could hide i
th a wince of pain. "No police. Please. I don't remem
t she knew he wasn't scared.
. He wanted to stay here, under the radar. Why? To hide from wh
uld us
"You can stay here. For now. U
hed over h
oice firm. "You will pay for your ro
ocket, then stopped, remembering his tattered clothes. A slow, charming smile spre
," he said, his blue eyes twinkling. "But I'm sure o
turning to leave. "For now, just focus on gettin
game had begun. And for the first time in a long time, she felt a t
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