vet where Kade had knelt. The fabric still held the ghost of his body heat. It wa

he floor. With a grunt of effort, she pushed herself up. Her knees trembled violently, threatening to buckle. She gritted her teeth,

in to keep from collapsing. She examined her reflection. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her eyes were wide, the pupils blown

her face, gasping as the shock forced her heart rate to stabilize. She

crashes, political scandals, and the rise of technology that didn't

sy and desperate. She practically fell back onto the mattress, pulling the du

hed against cool metal. Her phone. Kade had confiscated it, but in his rage

button. The screen ill

ad messages. A

aby, are

ster. Did

is men had guns.

a lawyer. We'

Don't let hi

h she once would have read with teary eyes and a fluttering heart, now looked like vo

ered over the

o

rchived the chat, hiding it in a secure fo

llway made her free

ash hitting her hard. She was physically weak, her muscles unconditioned for

ed her agai

Dillon was laughing. But then the scene shifted. It was Kade, lying in a pool of blood

d in her sleep, tossing he

m door cli

he hallway, a glass of scotch in his hand, unable to

stood by the bed, looking down at his wife. S

eard it.

on...

she lay in his bed, under his roof, triggered a violent snap in his psyche. The PTSD from his time

think. H

oulder hard, his fingers digging into the delicate flesh through the silk pajamas. He

led, his voice thi

the terrifying pressure on her shoulder. Above her, Kade

out, her hands flying

e, calling him, not D

his hand, gripping her like a vice. He looked a

ack, his hip hitting the heavy oak dresser with a thud. He

ing together. "Don't ever speak his name in this room. I

heart broke. Not for herself, but for him. She knew this wasn't just anger. I

or him," she whispered, her voi

ked at her, he would crumble. "From tomorrow, you are cut off. No phone. No intern

e left, the sound of the electronic lock

s lock

ise. She didn't cry. She sat there in the da

whispered. "

d pressed the service button. It was

utler, was dry and devoid of warmth. He dislik

e was a cool, detached tone, the voice of a woman who knew exactly how much lev

hat you are not to le

eel beneath. "But unless Kade prefers to have his security team drag a naked woman through the halls wh

The threat was subtle, wrapped in logic

g it up shor

e leaned back against the headboa

ne: Ar

wo: Br