hit the floor. Her body was com

st her pale cheeks. The red dress slipped slightly off h

s pocket with his free hand

dy, betraying none of the chaos inside him. "

e top of the stairs. He stopped short when

e carefully handed Gianna over to Alex. "Take her back to her

Gianna, supporting her wei

nt," Algot said. His eyes narrowed. "I want to know e

arried Gianna qui

lingering warmth of her skin was still there. For the first time in his li

se of

walked back in

up with a

rabbed her head, wincing at the dull, t

own bedroom. The morning sun was s

wearing the red dress from the banquet. It

eyes. The terrifying pain radiating from the man

small bathroom. She flicked on the harsh overh

She reached up and unzipped the side of

y to look closer in the mirror. There, stark against the pale skin of her throat, were five d

ith trembling fingers. The

e had grabbed her. He

relaxed the second she touched his chest. She remembered the way h

ething to him. Sh

icked up her phone from the nightstand. S

get home

aff called me. They said you fainted near th

d covered his tracks perfectly. He was pow

rawer and pulled out the crisp white business card she had f

Just a phone number pri

thumb over the

the man whose pain she could take away, was clearly someone import

run from him. She w

the bruises on her skin. She saw the fie

d to the empty room. "And I am