ed the heavy chrome handle of the rear door and p

to willingly get into his car after the scene she just caused. He quickly rec

k, ugly flash of wounded pride and irritation twisted his handsome features. He quickl

eached down with both hands, grabbed her numb right thigh, and physically hauled her ruined

in, completely cutting off the sight of Jeffery's hypoc

ion button. The engine roared to life. He adjusted the r

of self-awareness left," Brecken m

door panel, curling herself into the furthest, darkest corner of the spa

ning blew a steady stream of expensive, custom-ble

nterior. Her gaze snagged on a pile of ite

ed Bvlgari shopping bags. A limited-edition Chanel

n a gift tag attached to one of the bags. It was a glaring,

re she was looking.

thy hands will ruin the leather," he

t, vibrant colors of the designer bags physically hurt her eyes. For five

cabin felt too thick to inhale. The soft leat

claustrophobia sla

perfume vanished. It was instantly replaced by the shar

n the windowless laundry room of the prison durin

ng her screams. She felt the heavy, cold weight of the iron pipe swinging through t

scalated into violent, uncontrollable shivers. She bit down on the back of her hand,

r. He saw her convulsing in the corne

g on a show to get my sympathy?" Brecken sneered. "Save the ac

words acted like a bucket

ding painfully. She slowly lowered her hand from her mouth. De

e chilling, dead emptiness returned, freezin

absolute rule of survival. Tears, shaking, and wea

behind her left ankle, hiding the deformity from Brecken's view. She crossed her

er defense made his skin prickle. He felt a sudden, irrati

g wheel. "The family is throwing a welcome-home dinner for you tonight. Every important

e words "welco

ow, incredibly dark smile formed on her lips. It was

The trees blurred past the glass. Her pale

aced, convicted felon daughter they hadn't spoken

trap. It was a stage perfectly set to humiliate her, to

canvas of her bag. Buried deep inside the lining was the only leverage

a steel box in her mind. Her eyes sharpened into the cold, calcu