the small table, signing documents. He had just froz

he adrenaline from the confrontation had faded, leaving

hurts," Ann

p. She was

ine," h

ding your left side. The dr

call a

trust the staff here. I saw how

't like strangers touching him, especially

ckly. "I helped... I helped at th

shirt, letting it fall to his waist. He sat on

eled back the bandages. The skin was angr

g to sting,"

ers were gentle, incredibly precise.

oor o

ey'. She had blonde hair, too much eyeline

ey purred. "I'm here

torso. She licked her lips. In her hand, she h

dy bandage on the table. She saw the way she positioned the swab, not

aybe to check for genetic markers, maybe to prove he w

ically brushing his shoulder. "Let me just clean that up fo

at

bedside table. The metal tray of

ise said. "My

glaring at he

the floor. Ashley ben

. Her foot came down hard, directly on the tip o

oice dripping with false inno

r face red. "You di

Annelise

ard opened

ise said, pointing a trembling finger. "She's.

He looked at Ashley's panicked expression. Then he looked at Annelise

to Silas. "And have security

orted out, pro

to Annelise. A small s

us?" h

fingers. "She was looking at you li

as a rusty sound, like h

id, turning his b

her fingers traced the muscles of his spine, the air in the r

ot she was a liability. He forgot the merger. He