a

Or at least, I was goi

re of a tomb for the woman I

door bu

assassin. I

r I breathed, bringing the sharp scent

es fixed firmly on the floor, clu

terrible,"

sounded annoyed, like a mechan

y, scraped raw from disuse. "We have

lawyers, Ava. Bl

ith a sharp jerk of

the metal edge of the cot. "I don't

. He clamped a hand onto my shoulder, his fingers diggin

hissed. "Ben needs to mak

ab

n. "What is he

mbling. His eyes were wet. "I'm sor

rong, terrifyingly so. I struggled, kicking at his shins, but he d

Ethan c

p bite of a nee

ut the room was already tiltin

ut. He caught me, lowering me onto the bed with mocking g

ld went

e smell hit me first. Ant

in the sa

buzzed like angry hornets. I tried to move my arms, but heavy le

arp, flooded my ve

ake," a v

was standing there. Ne

at gurney

hen she saw me, her lips curle

s," she

hoked out. "

. He looked calm. Ratio

simply. "The years of... lifestyle ch

od ran

nd

aid. "We checked your file

orror clawing at my

s a neighbor asking to borrow a cup of sugar.

he straps until the leather burned my skin. "I saved

sing my agony with a wave of his hand. "This is happ

parts. He was harves

er bed, her voice dripping with venom. "Y

ight. He was wearing surgical scrubs

" I begged. "

o check the IV line, refusing to meet my ey

ne last time. His face

rvice," he said. "Do t

dded

d something

fast this time, a tidal wave of nothingness

issolved in