I had no idea how Nathaniel found me, but I wasn't ready to face him. I called the hotel from outside, asking them to check me out and bring my bags to the curb. Once I had them, I bolted to the airport, switching to the earliest flight out.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel waited downstairs for his assistant to confirm my room number. When he got it, he raced up—only to find an empty room. Two months of relentless searching, and the closest he'd come to me slipped away. He stood there, despair anchoring him in place.
I landed the next morning and skipped the hotel, renting a small place to settle in. Then I headed to the address on the card. It was a pristine private hospital. Showing the card got me past registration, straight to Ethan's office.
A nurse had me wait on a couch. "Ethan's on rounds.
