Lia sat with her hands clenched together in her lap, knowing Riley was waiting for her to open her car door and get out. She was trying to control the worst case of nerves she could remember having in a very long time.

"It's okay," he assured her yet again. "I promise they won't kill you."

"That's not funny," she said. "There are some things worse than death."

"Well, this won't be it. You have my word. Come on, they're expecting us."

By the time she undid ...