yna's eyes open. Blinding fluorescent lights stabbed at her retina

g pain ripped through her ribs, stealing the breath from her

e private hospital room swu

was immaculate, his silver hair perfectly combed. There

opened her mouth to say his n

the bed, towering over her. He did not ask about her injuries. He deman

s a raw, broken rasp. She told him Jordon w

the only thing that mattered was the pending corporate merger between their families-the very deal funding her fledgling g

iately, go to Jordon's apartment, and beg for his

e. She stared at the man who was supposed to be her

he would rather die than marry a c

er at her face. He threatened to trigger the morality clause in her late moth

low to her chest. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, but

freeze it. She told him she would beg on the stree

ould regret this, turned on his hee

into a suffo

in. She covered her face with her bruised hands and began to

icked. The door pu

vas work jacket and grease stained jeans. He h

His jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked in his cheek. A dark

om, his heavy boots m

reached into his pocket, pulled out a cle

he looked at the napkin, then up at his face. She recogniz

hing his. She wiped her face and chok

at down. He kept his voice low and steady. He intro

d, the palms thick with heavy calluses. He looked entirely out of

. The trust fund would be locked under fam

sane idea spark

urning. She looked Cruz straight in

lders stiffening slightly. H

ng the fabric until her knuckles turned white.

e year contract marriage. She needed a legal husband t

onth and cover all his living expenses. She held

he predatory gleam that flared in his dark pupils. He tapped his thick fi

his head. His gaze locked onto h

," he

onated with a quiet