. She was shoved into her bedroom. From the outside, the heavy thud of a metal cha

llapsed onto the cold hardwood flo

ice played on a continuous, agonizing loo

The physical pain in her chest was so sharp she had

heavy chain rattled.

isine. He set the tray down on the mahogany table and looked down at Audra, who wa

a bite in twenty-four hours," he

hid half her face, but her eyes were sharp, c

u want to play the caring host?" she rasped. Her voice

hed, spilling a few drops. His eyes darted away from hers. "That w

strength. She scrambled to her feet, grabbed the ed

floor with a deafening crash. Hot soup splatt

ng him to back up. "I heard my baby cry! A weak little cry! It was only aft

ucked in a sharp breath. The fake guilt in his eye

ambiguous whisper that twisted the knife deeper. "Perhaps that bastard simply wasn't lucky enough to survi

ength vanished from her legs. She collapsed backward, her kn

from her throat. It was the sound of a soul being ripped in half. That baby w

another man's child. A twisted

s and forcefully ripped her hands away

will finally belong to me," he whisper

dried on her cheeks. A new, freezing col

n her mouth and spat dire

he said, emphasizing

o strike her across the face. But his hand froze in mid-air. Even in his

dkerchief from his pocket and wiped the spit fro

s suit jacket and pulled out a glossy

who had raised Audra. She was lying in a sterile nursing hom

ession. "But I guarantee you, the second you step foot outside this est

tched the photo off her lap, her fingers gripping t

she screamed, grabbing a pillow from

almly adjusting the lapels of his suit, r

. I will have a car ready for you

ph tightly against her chest. The despair in her eyes was gone, replaced by a