By the way Sarah’s eyes flashed fire, Mick realized he hadn’t been as successful in tamping down his frustration as he’d thought. “You want facts?” she growled, practically baring her teeth at him. “Okay. Here’s a fact for you. I don’t give a damn what a piece of paper says. What matters is how I feel in here.” She slammed her clenched fist against her heart. “And in here, I am divorced.” She thumped her fist against her heart again, fierce and strong. “In here, he has no right to me, no right to my body or my life. And for the record, I’m not some frikkin’ criminal. I didn’t do a damned thing wrong other than have the misfortune to marry an abusive dickhead who is using every resource he has to stalk me. That is the only reason I’m on the run.”

“Are you telling me there is nobody who would help you? Give you a place to stay while you sorted things out?”

“Ha! You are so naive. You have no idea the kind of power and sway my ex has within the NYPD, do you? It’s terrifying. I couldn’t risk endangering anyone I cared about. I had to disappear completely. Because, believe me, my ex would ferret me out and destroy their lives. And here’s another fact to chew on. I happen to be worth a hell of a lot of money. Kevin will stop at nothing until he has me back under his foot. Literally.” Mick could hear truth in her voice, could see it shining out of her eyes, a cleansing, powerful truth. And it had helped to loosen the knot in his gut.

Mick nodded. “Okay.”