cal revulsion seized her. Stella's body went rigid, a statue carved from ice. Her mind de

sound was so jarring, so unexpected, that Victor actually flinched. He glanced at it, his face

e O

e door exploded inward, splintering off its hin

tical unit. No wasted motion. No hesitation. They were machines built for one purpose. The man in the lead was Julian's head

ding and disorienting. But before relief could even form, a colder, sharper understanding followed

of motion, he was disarmed, his arm twisted behind his back at an unnatural angle. A choked cry of pain escaped his lips

the furniture. A damaged piece of inventory to be catalogued later. He spoke in

ck of garbage. A trail of blood smeared across the pristine marble. The ent

e was okay. No words of comfort. No explanation. No one even looked at her. It was as if they had just extermi

Sterling, wiping away Victor Novak's filth from his asset. She wasn't a woman who

he soul. It hollowed her out, scraped away everything soft and vulnerable, and left only something ha

ou

opping into still water. It wasn't a though

was done being prey. The cool New York night air felt like a slap, shocking her back to a painful clarity. She looked down at her

ave him. For good.

nth birthday, like a gift. She had treasured it then. Now it tasted like ash. The apartment was bright. Julian was sitting on the living room s

as bitter o

dress and the stark pallor of her face. His inspection was thorough, clinical. He wasn't lookin

. She began to pack, her movements quick and precise, devoid of any sentimentality. She didn't take the expensive things. The

ed, his voice low and gravelly. There was something dangerous i

s cold as the grave. She refused to give him the satisfaction of

frame from the nightstand. It held the only photograph she had of herself and Leo, tak

ing a long, oppressive shadow over her. The shadow swallowed her whole. He st

e adoration and fear that had lived in her eyes for seven years were gone, replaced by a calm, desol

aid, her voice steady.

uine emotion she had seen from him all night, and it was rage. He had expected tears, pleas, hysterics. He had

his possession to