Karmen made sure the man and his minions were securely in police custody before driving Aisha to her apartment. The silence in the car was heavy, broken only by the swish of the windshield wipers against the snow. He walked her all the way to her door, and when she whispered, "Come in," he found himself unable to leave her in that state.
He stepped inside, removing his shoes and sliding his feet into the guest slippers. Aisha headed straight for the kitchen, her hands trembling so violently that the glass rattled against the water jar.
Karmen was there in a second, his steady hand covering hers as he took the jar and poured the water for her. She offered a small, breathless thank you and sipped the water slowly, her entire frame still vibrating with the aftershocks of the encounter. When she finally lowered the glass, Karmen gently took it from her and set it aside.
