feel the freezing temperature of her skin burning aga

the bed. "Your request is absurd," he sta

adult male with no blood relation to you.

. The desperate light in her eyes died instantly. She

had done. He reached into the inner pocket of h

ner. He grabbed a piece of hospital statione

r her plastic water cup. "This is a secure, encry

turned and walked out of the room. T

ng. Hot tears leaked from the corners of her eyes,

n. A young man with messy blond hair a

," he announced, dropping a massive, obno

ocket knife from his jacket and started peeling. "J

relaxed slightly at h

e security on this floor is insane. He's

gripped the edge of her blanket

let out a long breath. "Be

Shepherd family's adopted daughter. Javier and her

t tightened painfully. She wasn't special. Sh

ver her. She squeezed her eyes shut, h

quiet room. Her eyes locked onto the pie

ed the paper free. She stared at the numbers.

ared in her chest. She picked up the p

ne by one. The line rang exa

ough the speaker. It was sharp, cold

forced her voice to sound s

sper?" she asked. "My

stretched over the line. Ella could hea

for him to yell a

very tired sigh cam

y flat, a cold, bureaucratic drone devoid of any human emot