car, gasping for air. The f

f the car. She slammed her bloody palm

ndprints smeared

y rolled down. J

-conditioned air es

a tailored black suit. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were s

rug in her veins made her vision swim. The

e shook violently from the cold

und echoed from the

ped her he

avy metal pipe in his hand. The pipe dragge

ilated. Panic se

ack at the m

fingers and tapped them slowly against the leat

d the metal pipe. "You d

was less than t

click sounded from

ck dis

handle and yanked

sh floorboards, bringing the smell of rain, copper

egs clad in expensive wool trousers. A strong

y. The locks engaged with a heavy

ed against the reinf

ull, muted thud. The gl

he pulled her knees to her chest. Her entire body shook unc

r console. He pulled out a

as firm, unyielding. He pressed the expen

ed, but he d

he dim ambient light of the c

straight nose. Eyes so dark t

. He screamed muffled obscenities, de

even glance a

button on t

ed. His voice was a l

massive engine

e. Instead, he slammed his foot on the g

he Maybach surged forward,

e pipe and threw himself backward into a massi

past him, leaving

th vanished. The adrenaline

ket drug took

rupted in her lower stomach. It sprea

e was burning fr

Oscar de la Renta gown. The ruined fabric slipped off her shoulder,

ural, feverish flush spreading across her cheeks

ebrows pull

. She needed to cool down. She

an beside her. He radia

d out. She touched the edge

s large fingers around her wrist. H

ll warned. His voice was co

ngers sent a jolt of elect

nto his touch. She turned her hand and

rate moan esc

. The air in the car sudde

e forced her head up, making her look directly into his e

g hunger. A single tear of physical frustration slip

tear. A muscle in

her chin. He pushed he

e car phone. He

the universal counteragent t

hun

fingernails into her own palms. She tried to use th

hing lights of the Manhattan skyline blurred outside the wind

inning. Her de

not take i

body. She lunged ac

over his lap and s

not push

narrow waist. His thumbs pressed into her

ward until his lips br

e," Bell whispered. His v