old air conditioning of the VIP room bit into her exposed skin. Axel's leth

st moments ago, but standing in this sterile room, looking at the flickering heartbeat on the monitor, a dark, suffocating impatience clawed at

ite," Axel ordered. "Do

lanced nervously at Eleanora,

ipboard. "I cannot perform a termination without the patient'

the doctor. The air pressur

logy department," Axel said, his voice dropping a terrifying octave. "I also sit on the board of your malp

oat. She darted her eyes around the sterile room, desperately se

round the cold edge of a heavy metal surgical

the metal tray awkwardly over he

then at her shaking hands. He let out a dar

d. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, shrugging it off his bro

k violently behind her mask, but her knuckle

ward. His speed

d over her wrist. He twisted it slightly-just enou

It clattered loudly onto the hard linoleum flo

h of her arms above her head with just one of his hands.

sed, his breath brushing her

signaled the trembling nur

heavy double doors of the clinic swung wi

ng stepped i

dress. Her silver-handled cane struck the

n immediately behind her. In seconds, they neutral

y clinic, Axel?" Madam Sterling demanded

k a step back. He ran a frustrated hand through h

p, calculating eyes fixed instantly on the ultrasound monitor. T

the monitor. Her wrinkled eyes widened. A su

curling into fists. "Planted by a gold digger

She swung her cane and struc

tightening, but he di

Sterling bloodline!"

hospital gown tight across her chest. Her mind raced. She realized instantly

o Eleanora. She looked at the white m

ling asked. Her tone softened, though

voice soft, polite, and laced with just

ded. She turned ba

Sterling declared. "And it will b

burned with dark rebellion. "I will

her eyes. She leaned hea

ty clause in your late mother'

it him like a physical blow. His jaw clenched so hard a m

er voice echoing in the silent room. "Or you will forfeit your mot

oncentrated hatred. He was a predator caught in a steel