ding was soft

at followed, it sound

rs completely. His hand found the pistol he'd left on the dresser, fi

hissed. "Bedroo

from the photo of Lily, from everything. She scrambled across the silk sheets, dro

-positioning himself at the bedroom d

llway. Two sets. Me

stopped anyone at the lobby. Shou

d bypassed

, faintly amused-drift

ou're here. And I kn

ed. He recognized

t Lan

'd sent someone who sounded far too comfor

hammering so loud she was sure they could hear it. She coul

topped just out

ice continued. "Hand over Harper Voss

t-clean through the doorframe,

body hittin

n c

t shredded the drywall inches from Mason's head. Plaster explode

lip to keep f

g heartbeats-then mo

dn't sta

ng covering her. She grabbed the heavy crystal decan

g room wa

ole between the eyes. The other

, boot on the man's chest,

u?" Mason as

bubbling on his lips

barrel harder. "Wh

rper standing in the doorway. "Pretty little th

r tightened o

pped forwa

snapped to

the dying man. Voice steady d

e is

ld textile mill on the river. Midnight handover. Y

Mason

coughed. "Maybe

led back. Bo

his nose-fury radiat

to her feet. "We'

r head. "The

not by walking int

behind a panel in the kitchen. As the doors closed, he punched

fined space, t

her-eyes dark

ave stayed in

chin. "I'm no

and braced above her head. The other slid under the hoodie-cup

yourself kille

ain-fear and desire

him live long enou

s-brutal, claiming. Teeth. To

s raking his shoulders, hips grinding

evator

ing black armored SUV-

he kiss, brea

t i

e

e driver-new face, silent

into the night, Mason pulled her onto

he hoodie up, expo

" she

nto her hips. "I need to

ock springing out,

lay. No

her-and sank her down ont

t-half pain,

outh. "Quiet. Or the driver

his palm

began to move her. Up. Down

ground against his pelvis. The angle

rate, frantic-nail

tween her breasts-suc

skin. The car rocked

around him-cl

snarled agai

eas

r to the seat on her back

now.

me," he

s glassy, l

oing to lock you in my bed for a week. No clothes. No leaving

promise sha

behind his hand, body c

wling her name as he flooded

anting, trembling-as the car

himself away. Fixed her hoodie

her face-g

car when we arrive. My tea

ded-sti

ndoned mill road, headlights caugh

ral-hastil

own

heart... pierced

it, in dri

ER OR S

ression wen

ed the

d at

ge of

his spare pist

how to u

it. Nod

oo

ed her softly thi

ens to me... run.

hirt. "Nothing's

d-dark,

s the

pped out in

ra

ht toward the

r whispered to th

ot run

ened h

him into

e the mill, a girl'