ith frantic urgency. The dark red blood shot through t

e locked her jaw, refusing to make a single sound of pain. Her eyes were fixed on the screen of her ph

was rushed o

doctor stepped out, pulling down his surgical mask. He looked

wall, exhaling a long, shuddering breath. He rubbed his hands over his face. When he lowe

and walked toward the

ncredibly fragile. She was holding a small paper cup of warm su

r. He didn't ask how she f

paper cup out of her hands, an

e like cracking a whip. "Time

rself up from the sofa. Her knees

is pockets. He watched her struggle to find her ba

t of the hospi

armored SUV. Simon, Alex's most trust

lyn pressed herself completely against the right passenger door. Alex sat flush against th

the tinted windows, casting harsh

e suspension bridge connecting

. His voice was low, vibrating

t ahead. "The money will hit your a

ickeningly greedy smile onto her pale face. "P

twisting in Alex's gut. His eyes snapped to

nce in a second, trapping her against the door. The sheer phy

s index finger hard against h

vicious whisper. "Don't think that just because you used my siste

transaction. I will never marry. And I will sure as hell nev

h pure poison, that even Simon's eyes f

ng laugh. Love? Marriage? I just need your security s

Grant had

he violently jerked her should

ive leather seat. She bit her lip, her face twisting into a mask of utter humiliation and h

ed to feel the rush of victory. He had put h

of frustration hit him. The sigh

over and violently punched the window control. The heavy, armored gla

ht air off the ocean b

wrapped her arms tightly around herself, curling in

s eye. His hands twitched on his lap. He tho

ut the open window, letting the freezing wind punish them both. H

the underground gara

door open. He stepped out and strode toward the pri

a trembling hand. She dragged h

levator. As the doors closed, the pathetic, cry

th curled up into a s

ortress. And he had just