How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Jarrod had been wiping down the silverware for Elodie when she suddenly slid into the seat beside him. His hand froze mid-motion, and he turned slowly, meeting her gaze. She looked at him calmly, her eyes giving nothing away, and yet, beneath that cool surface, he somehow sensed an invisible hook tugging at his heart, over and over, leaving ripples he couldn't suppress.

The feeling was intoxicating, stirring something deep inside. His eyes darkened a shade, and he set the spoon down, meeting her gaze head-on. "You always have to sit this close?"

Elodie picked up the spoon he'd just finished polishing, her arm brushing against his as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "Is that a problem? Should I move back?"

She was already starting to rise as she spoke.

Without missing a beat, Jarrod chuckled and reached out, pulling her gently back beside him. "Ms. Thorne, not even a little leeway?"

Elodie arched a brow, glancing at him sidelong. "Why pretend you're innocent? Was all that really necessary?"

He didn't deny it he was being deliberately obtuse, but embarrassment was never his style. Drawing her a little closer, he said, "Well, this is a surprise. You were never this forward with me before. If I don't play coy, you might start thinking I'm easy."

Elodie rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “You really never stop, do you?"

Jarrod propped his head up with one hand, watching her intently, a faint smirk lingering at the corner of his mouth. "It's rare you take the initiative, Ms. Thorne. I'd be crazy not to enjoy it while it lasts."

Elodie cleared her throat, grabbing the glass of water nearby and taking a sip to steady herself. “How did you find me, anyway?"

"Your phone sent me a signal,”

Jarrod replied. "Did you not notice? That area blocks most signals, but it's not foolproof-there must've been @brief gap. Watts is usually careful, but it would've made no sense for him to let you keep your phone."

“It wasn't him,” Elodie admitted softly. “I hid the phone; he never knew I had it." A flicker of relief crossed her face. If she hadn't dropped it under the seat in the car, she might never have had a chance.

Jarrod smiled lazily. "That explains it."

Without thinking, Elodie leaned into the curve of his arm, a gesture so natural she barely noticed the trust and intimacy in it.

Jarrod glanced down at her, the way she nestled in close, and an unspoken smile tugged at his lips.

"Watts threatened you with the kid, didn't he? How did you handle that?" Elodie's mind was churning with questions. Ever since she'd overheard Watts's call, she'd been piecing things together, trying to make sense of it all.

"I had things set up in New York ahead of time," Jarrod replied, absently twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers. "You've heard of the Quinn family, right? I'm sure Watts told you I was being hunted for revenge."

Elodie blinked in surprise. He'd anticipated even that?

"I've kept an eye on the Quinns for a while now. The child is my only real weakness no matter the risk, Inoveldrama

always make backup plans. The net

New York facility is real, but I made it a smokescreen. Everything looks normal on the outside, but a while ago, I quietly moved the kid to another secure location. No one

knows where-not even me. I

haven't visited, so there's no chance

of leaks."

Elodie felt her heart pounding. If not for Jarrod's foresight, she would've had no hope left.

Seeing her shaken yet relieved,

Jarrod reached up and squeezed her

cheek gently. "I sent Sprague

overseas. His company's headquarters are in Italy; he co resist poking around in Sylvie's business. I even wondered if he'd try to make inroads with the Quinns, so I made sure to cover every angle."