for hours. With every step, the friction tore at the tender skin. A blister on her right heel poppe

broke, revealing a massive, sprawling estate. It was built in a heavy Spanish colonia

avily armored mercenaries stood at every corner, holding the thick leather leashes of

the main house were propped open. A blast of freezing, heavily air-conditioned air spilled out onto the portico.

ight silk blouse and a heavy gold necklace encrusted with diamonds.

f girls. Her eyes were critical, assessing the merchandise. She stopped in f

t skin under Haley's chin. The unwanted touch, combined with the cloying sce

aid, her voice thick with satisfaction. "Mr.

a returned, thick and choking. She lowered her eyelashes, staring

, turning into a deafening roar. Haley looked up. Two Apache attack helicopters swept low over t

up the driveway. The tires crushed the gravel, coming to a violent, sync

Her arrogant posture vanished, replaced by a rigid, tremb

a crisp suit. He stepped back. A long leg clad in dark trousers and

o tie. The top two buttons were undone. He moved with a terrifying, predatory grace. The air arou

ercenaries snapped to attention, their spines rigid. Even the Dobermans stopped

re in the air was physical, a heavy, suff

ilver Zippo lighter. His thumb flicked the lid open and shut. Click.

d sweetness. "Mr. Sterling. We have prepared a s

. His brow furrowed deeply. A look of profound, visceral disgust crosse

line of girls. The coldness radiating from him made the hairs on Haley's arms stand up. She bit down hard on the

row of plastic mannequins. There was no heat, no interest, no humanity. His eyes passed over Haley. For

women," Axel said. His voice was a low, gravelly rasp t

p suddenly looked like a mask on a corpse. She t

ly into Bea's path, raising the flat of

rs. Haley let out a slow, silent breath, feelin

her gaze away from the terrifying man. She needed an anchor, anything to stop her brain from shutting down completely. Then she saw it-the map on the wall. Like a drowning woman grasping at a piece of driftwood, she threw all her mental energy int

used mid-flick. He stopped walking. His head turned slowly, his dark eyes track