eeks

ampton Lester estate. The heavy velvet curtains

as still weak, but the sedati

of the room had fallen asleep

nto the thick Persian rug. She moved silentl

d the cold, brass handle

sharp metal edge pressed i

r. She turned the knob with agon

ed her bare arms. She kept her back pressed against the wall, moving towa

the stairs, a figure ste

dfo

wine. He froze when he saw her. His

h his perfectly styled blonde hair,

s voice dripping with fake sympat

memory of the hickey on Cher

he brass letter opener, pointing t

Bradford?" she demanded. Her voi

vanished. The muscle

," he sneered. "You're nothing

from the other en

ter suite. They saw Jaclyn holding the w

her signature

he three of them formed a semi-cir

as pressed against the cold glass of the floor

t her back. Her breathing

nd wrapped her arms around his waist

ed, her eyes gleaming with malice

fury drove straight

ashing the letter open

ss. It shattered on the floor. His large han

d her arm

ingers went numb. The letter opener

r backward with al

ack slammed into the f

through the hallway. The thick

he looked down. The stone

. She tapped her index

atelyn said slowly. "Jumping to h

nged forward. Both of his hands

backward, forcing her thr

ripped

lawed at the wooden window frame. Her fingernails

ng crash erupted f

ors of the estate were kick

ned her neck

the foyer. He was flanked

s loo

d onto Jaclyn dangling fr

re shattered instantly. Pure, unad

The sound tore from his t

shoving a heavy marble table ou

but unmistakable. Bradford's eyes darted toward the grand s

p acrylic nails directly into the bleedi

n forced Jaclyn'

st her

roared in

kward into t

he broken window. Bradford, Katelyn, and Cherri

d her gaze

atio. He threw his arms out, his body stretching t

ith a desperate, agonizing l

r. He was the only o

crunch echoed t

ammed into the h

. A massive wave of agony instant

y beneath her back, soak

lurred into

s scooped her upper b

r blood. He pressed his large hands desper

pped from his face ont

e cracking, completely broken. "Jaclyn

wanted to touch his face. She wanted to t

fore all the strength drained from her musc

suffocating, swa

entire life fighti

nal. The last thing she heard was the a