ked away from the ballroom and dragg

the master bedroom and stepped inside. S

the center of it. The rhythmic hiss of the ventilator was the only sound in the room.

hower on as hot as it would go. She stood under the spray, letting the wa

servative, long-sleeved silk pajamas. She walked back

g sound came fr

past the perimeter guards? Then she remembered the rumors that Cleon ha

tepped into the bedroom. The heav

What are you doing? How dare you

ss his face. "Come on, Haleigh. That vegetable in th

k a step back. Her calves hit the e

heavy brass base of the bedside

said. Her voice shook, but her grip on the metal

Play hard to get all you want. Y

nged

ard. The brass base smas

lamp. He shoved her backward. Haleigh fell onto the edge of the mattress. Cleon

ht her knee up and slamme

o. The heavy mattress bounced

ine next to the bed st

lently but surprisingly strong despite his condition, dug into Cleon's wrist. It wasn't the g

topped breathing. He slowly tur

eyes we

nfocused, but the raw, murderous inten

ound of bones grinding against ea

, stumbling backward over his own feet. He didn't even look back. He scram

hest heaved as she sucked in desperate b

st the sheets. His eyes were closed

mmed her hand onto the red e

nd nurses flooded the room. They checked Fabian's vitals,

h. "It was just a severe muscle spasm. A neurological reflex cause

n's motionless face. The doctor said it was a reflex. But Haleigh remember