her tablet when the door flew

he floor. She bent to pick it up, and Dominic's finger

asped. "You'r

Say that one more time, and I'll have them

like that would have

't watched her son's co

," sh

bli

zing room in so much pain she can't even wake up. Maybe dying would be kinder. And

vy

die?" She tilted her he

, and for a second he looked less like the Reaper and mor

r free hand at him as if they'

g if you stop. Deal? Now let

rched her face for the c

had six years of practice

cooped up the tablet, swiped a few

The mermaid cut

the screen. W

," she said, scrolling. "Grandma a

was worse than shouting. "Do yo

ked up

nant or not, you will never be Mrs. Pierce. That title belong

hould have

d out on a cliff. There

ike a stubborn child. "No. You're wrong. W

w in his chest

him. Heat. Hard muscle. The smell of cedar and smoke. Ivy's st

came close

t to wrap my hands around your throat

let the hate show in her

smiled, and laid her c

. "You love me. And w

," he repea

I don't care. But we have a baby now, and you're going to give us a home. And once you do,

yo

I'll handle her." She smiled swee

t person who threatened me went into th

ed her

ets. He followed her down, one hand braced beside her head,

't help it. Her hands fl

ai

ow, ugly triumph spr

," he said. "What happe

ght her. H

t warning, Ivy. The next time you lie

rned

ms around his wa

wing her nausea. "It's not that I don't want you to t

wn at her ar

ront of him, and hooked one

ic

eath s

spered, looking up at him through her lashes. "But

knees in front of him,

own men cry in boardrooms, jerked b

e a lunatic," he sna

so hard a picture

e out. She sat on the floor and dry-heav

started

nic Pierce a

ght. And we have a

e back to the lake

vy fine. She

smiled at the security guards. And at night, under the covers, she sent messages

closed the tablet and picked up the calenda

da

night of Celeste Shaw's big g

in America would ever