locked onto

d. Then, his eyes flicked away, his upper lip curling slightly. It was a micro-expression o

t walk t

rying him in a straight, aggressive line tow

" Corbin

d the heavy exhaustion of a long flight and the

ure, lowering his voice respectfully. "Miss Berger is s

hand. The bodyguard s

the swarm of reporters pressing against the invisible

erialized from the elevator right be

" the assistant announced loudly to the press, his tone lea

back off. He took long, purposeful strid

e didn't turn his head. He did

ble, weightless thing. A giant, invisible hand reached into her chest

dn't

her torn clothes and

e hand wrapping around the b

rbi

t loud, but it was sharp enough to slice

stopped moving. The reporters held t

ood there for three agonizing seconds, his hand

no longer hidden. It was ent

dropping to a lethal whisper that somehow carried ac

lap across the face. Her cheeks bur

word in response, the door to

with wide, fearful eyes. "Corbin... Ashely... she heard

ce melted into something frantic. He turned his b

wung wide, Fa

fled, breathless sobbing.

id. I'm back.

ice of a man desperately trying to prote

icked shut, cutti

wall, whispering the sweetest words in the world to another woman. She

eight, stepping slightly into her path, si

ir burned her throat. She turned her head and looked at

over and pu

d stale coffee. The luxurious beige sofas and

ay, looking directly at the

er chin, channeling every ounce of the cold authority she had been

oked at the closed door of Ash

e hard, carrying the undeniable w

ard gave a

he lounge and left th

, the door was pus

jacket. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, and the sleeves were rolled up tight

eavy shoes sinking into the carpet. Every step

eavy thud sealed them inside, cutting off

were

turned to lead. It was so thic

rp features. She looked for a single trace of the ma

ng but harsh, i

ve minutes,"

it down. He just stood there, towering over her, looking down at her as if she were a te