Everyone follows his instructions without question. We’re there giving statements for almost two hours. When the authorities finally release us, we take Ari back to Hardwick with us and get her set up in a guest room. Her father’s house is now a crime scene, and she’s too exhausted to drive back to the city. Fortunately, they allow her to collect the overnight bag she’d brought with her and a few items from the house. Once we’ve updated Elena and seen to Ari, Z and I retreat to his bedroom. We sit on the bed and address a barrage of missed texts and calls until Z tosses both our phones onto the dresser and wordlessly leads me to the bathroom. He turns on the shower, then helps me from my dress. I step into the steaming water while he undresses, then wrap my arms around his middle when he j
