Chapter 199

Valerie

After breakfast Lukas and I are sitting in my SUV, heading for the forest where we are going to be having a picnic. I’m not the outdoorsy type, but I think I’m going to enjoy the privacy out there in the middle of nowhere.

The SUV’s tires crunch over gravel as we leave paved roads behind. Lukas’s hand rests heavily on my thigh, thumb stroking idly—a branding through denim. My phone vibrate