ystal on the floor. Her chest he

arble floor with a sharp crack, the screen

r stiletto crushed the broken phone screen, grindi

assive security guards

to a venomous hiss. "Check the clinics. Check the homel

hs l

each and old sweat. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered,

e edge of a hard, plas

t from a thrift store for two dollars. Her hands gripped th

swollen belly pulled pai

ltrasound gel off her stomach with a rough paper towel. He p

the reality of this situation. You are carrying triplets. It is an extr

r cheek. The familiar taste

pointing to the blurry black-and-white monitor. "The strain on your heart is massive. I str

the hem of her sweater to r

en, sharp kick

hat had lived in her bones for the past few months. These children were

s quiet, but it did not shake. "

her a small bottle of generic prenatal vitamins

herself off the chair, and wal

her hiding place. It was a damp, windowless basement b

door and pushed it open. Th

freezing room, a violent, tearin

. Her knees bu

sudden gush of warm fluid soaked through her

ater

ing like a serrated knife dragging across her

rnails scraping against the floor. She needed to reach th

brushed the edg

as

ith such explosive force that the meta

head up, her vision

e white cashmere coat and expensive red stiletto heels. The s

ive, heavily scarred enforcer

n the floor. A slow, twisted smile spre

ice dripping with absolute disgust.

flying to her stomach, desperately trying to protect the lives ins

lla comman

n's wrists with one massive hand and slammed them

ly, but his weight wa

er body. Without medical help, without painkill

te terror and blinding pai

ierced the damp air o

s. She needed a child to secure her place in high society. She

lood or the fluids. She reached down between Alisso

. Her maternal instinct exploded, gi

bloody sound. She yanked her arms, tearing the skin

rom her coat, looking at A

dded a

heavy duffel bag and pulled out a large, i

soline instantly flooded the small room

ed rapidly across the concrete, soaking into the

er chest. She pulled a silver lighter from her pocket. She spa

e lighter ove

asoline-soak

oo

ntly. The fire roared to life, eating

cries. She pulled the heavy iron door shut from the outside. The so

ceiling. The heat became unbearable,

tantly evaporating in the extreme

e extreme physical shock triggered

. The primal need to save her remaining ch

the toxic smoke, Alisson pushed with every

d the second

ams began to crack and splinter from th

infants tightly against her bare chest. She curled her body into a tight ball over

letely black. The sm

the nightstand. It had landed in a shallow puddle of water from a broken pipe, miraculously shieldin

ary's world was a ruthless, blood-soaked underworld; contacting him meant painting a permanent target on her back and drawing his

r mysterious adoptive

e click

ment..." Alisson croaked, h

hand. Her head hit the conc

minute

er Queens. Three black, unmarked tactical helicopters

pelled down ropes, landing on th

k. A shaped explosive charge blew t

eam rushed int

d, her skin blistered and charred. But her arms were locked i

the team leader yelled into his radio, lifti

into the cool night air, loading her