Regretting The Wife He Threw Away

The Maybach sped past Stewart and disappeared down the road.

He kept his eyes fixed on the car's fading silhouette until it was completely out of sight. Only then did he turn away.

Stepping out, Stewart crouched beside his own car and checked the

undercarriage.

Just as he'd suspected.

Someone had rigged the car with a timed explosive.

The countdown had less than ten minutes left.

He snapped a photo of the device and sent it to Lorna.

Her call came through instantly.

"Stewart, listen to me," Lorna's voice was sharp with urgency. "This is a modified bomb—if it goes off, the blast radius will be huge. You need to get everyone out of there, now-"

"There's only ten minutes," Stewart cut her off, voice taut. "There's no time to evacuate the whole block. There are apartment buildings and a playground nearby. I need to get the car away from here."

"Are you out of your mind?" Lorna's pitch rose. "Ten minutes isn't enough! Where could you possibly go?"

"I checked the map. There's an abandoned dock less than two miles from here." "Even if you make it, will you have time to get away?"

He slid back into the driver's seat and shut the door. "Lorna, today's been a good day."

Lorna fell silent.

make it to Switzerland,

a genius-he's promised, as long as you cooperate, he'll pull you back from the brink. You

engine, set the GPS, and floored the gas

M9 roared toward the old

a murmur. "Lorna, tell Cedric Clarke and Dr. Riley I'm sorry

through, desperate and pleading. "Stewart, please don't

As long as I'm alive,

voice trembled. "But if you die, your children will lose their

Stewart said nothing.

He ended the call.

the GPS, minute by minute. Stewart

few minutes, he couldn't help himself he

moment, Briony sat in

backseat of the Maybacet

her so

out

Pand daughter close, staring

window at

had

šky.

the sun had been shining. Now, as if

everything was shrouded in

the

and

her phone

strange unease swept over her. Her eyelashes fluttered. She spoke softly, "Crystal, could you get my phone

the purse and checked the screen. "It's an