directly at Amalia's face. It hit her chee

," Alton ordered, his voice flat. "Consider it

iving room and dropped to her knees on the expensive Persian rug. She sprayed the cleaner and scrubbed the red stains with

rs of the penthouse

sing her body deep into the shadow of the large le

The man in the middle was covered in blood. Thick, dark drops o

crystal glass filled with amber whiskey. His

cooler box on the glass coffee table. He unl

stench of raw blood flooded the living room. It hi

or, Amalia slowly raised her head. She

a severed human hand. The flesh at the wrist was hacked

mouth to muffle the sound. Her eyes widened so

king a slow sip of his whiskey. He looked at the severed ha

d. "He was trying to destroy th

est of his whiskey in one gulp and slammed the heavy cr

gomery," Chadwick ordered,

ntrol her limbs. As she tried to press herself further into t

er and hit the floor

he room snapped

ew their guns. The black muzzles pointed dir

in the air, tears streaming down her face, her

and. The bodyguards l

t him to where Amalia was cowering on the floor. He st

er teeth chattering so hard she could barely fo

to the cooler, his fingers brushing the melting

r jaw. The shocking cold against her warm skin

s incredibly soft, almost intimate, but it carried

from her eyes, running down her cheeks and

ression twisted into sudden, violent disgust. He

the blood. And get rid of this crying n

grip bruised her skin instantly. He dragg

in her mind. Pure survival instinct took over. She twisted her body and dug her

arm, pulled his hand back, and slappe

r eyes. A sharp ringing filled her ears, and the metallic taste of blood flood

ed her down the hall, and threw her in

lose a hand," Alton warned, h

ammed shut. The l

darkness. Only a thin sliver of light leaked in

ic bag. Inside were three strong sleeping pills she had secretly packed before leaving her home coun

light under the door. The paralyzing fear in her che

er fingernails digging into her palm. She wa