dimly lit by a s

ded on the thick rug. Her skin bur

ted her sides, holdin

his sharp jawline and land

ack, her fingers digg

to breathe, a sharp, piercing

ell's private phon

His muscles lock

s eyebrows. He looked deep

She slid her arm down, wrapping it ar

ad. His eyes caught the na

e body we

t the cold air hit Collette's

off the nightstand and

ked through the speaker. It was weak, tre

Hartwell was

His voice, usually so cold and commanding, drop

ght now," Hartw

d his dress shirt from the floor an

the heavy duvet

g his hands move efficiently over the but

even loo

p," Hartwell ordered, his voice

c of the blanket. She bit the inside

me?" she asked. Her voice shook, no mat

His hands stopp

head and looked at he

te," he snapped. "Don't ask

his heel an

ut behind him. The sound echo

r of the bed. The sheets next t

like a s

t burned, and her eyes stung, but

. Her bare feet hit the

discarded button-down shirts a

enthouse was dead silent. Marta was

ce was su

living room. She grabbed an unopened

bother wi

her head back, and let the bur

ike swall

ttle toward the glass do

t onto the ope

threatening to take root in her chest. Hartwell Lara was a weapon for her revenge, nothing more. Any warmth she felt for him was a dangerous distraction, a poison that wo

. She leaned her forearms against the freezin

ed again, mixing

e on the phone played

iliation chewed at h

ottle and drank

to spin. Her legs l

ounge chair in the corner of th

wrapping her arms around her legs i

ers. It hit the wooden deck with a dull thud,

ting right through t

nto black. Her body temperature

ith dawn, she lay completely mo