d feel the coldness of her skin through the thin

r voice a muffled, frightened sob. "I..

anipulator into a terrified little girl. The w

moments, leaving behind a profound sense of helplessness.

imp, slumping as if all

t again, scooping her up in a bridal carry

er. Holding the woman he despised with every fiber

and dropped her onto it wit

pulling the covers around herself. Only her wide, re

ingsley said, standing ov

ed out. Her fingers flew across the screen, navigating to his banking app. Using his saved password, she authorized a supplementary black card for herself-a card linked directly to his personal account with a spending l

small, wounded. "I just... I love you

rong, I shouldn't have used such an extreme method... but when I

into a reluctant act of "saving" a girl driven mad b

more of her madness. "Starting today. After one month, you

eekly, like a child who

you will not contact Carmelita, and you will not pul

you say." Her comp

e, but all he saw was the pale exhaustion of a near-death

ket and tie from the sofa, ready

g?" Gretta's voice

your bu

pushed the covers aside and sat up. The robe fe

he door, turning ba

re do yo

her voice pitiful. "You hav

a blatant provocation, a decla

ting the urge to throw h

ice," he g

retta pushed. "And I don'

dded fabric on the floor-the remains of the d

ed a woman's outfit delivered to the presidential suite at the

woman he was familiar with as a reference poi

yes like ice. "When the clothes arrive

d, he turned and wa

the handle, Gretta's voice floa

't forget our