home, not wanting to drag him further int

he Chaney building. A freezing mix of r

ried through the lobby, taking the

ell of alcohol in the air was suffoca

y silent as she headed for the guest bedroom. As she passed the study, she heard the faint clink of

knob when a massive, burning-hot hand shot out from

e yanked her backward, slamming

eath out of her lungs. He

ect the baby. Her arms flew to her stomach, crossing over it as she hit the w

, pinning her to the wall. His breath, ree

, bloodshot, and c

voice vibrating with raw aggression. "Di

antically, twisting her wris

oth of her wrists in one hand and slamm

blouse and ripped it downward. The buttons popped of

against her skin, "then I still have the ri

and sucking roughly at her skin. There

t. Not for herself, but for the ti

er legs, trying to pry them apart, ma

one hand free, brought her right knee up,

his grip loosening for

, and slapped him across the face with

AC

nd echoed through the de

the side. He froze comp

the wall. She crossed both arms tightly over her stomach

. "Don't touch me!" she screamed, her voic

ice water. The raw, unfiltered revulsion

slowly stood up straight, his chest rising

ned to dead,

said, his voice terrifyingly calm, "I would rather touch a

lamming the master bedroom d

ing for air in the dark. Her