na'

e wreathed in a smile so sac

idly twirling a paint-dripping brush, its tip

ruding on a private place of peace that shou

ng with manufactured innocence. "He said the light in he

ils digging so deep into

olently with rage at the sight of paint splattered across the p

t of my

d in front of Talia, rai

es and let out a

l," he snapped impatiently. "They're just a few pieces of rott

and cowered behind

vy metal easel, then clutched her arm and gasp

flashed throug

rm at my hands, he lunged forwa

-soaked hardwood floor, and I

, until my lower back slammed into the

ce of the room, a sickenin

y lumbar spine, instantly driving

ack of wet rags, clutching my side in d

at me, his gaze fu

growled, airily twisting the entire truth of

s Talia who introduced me to that political magnate back then. She'

nscripts you spent all those all-

shattered the froz

ing back into the calm, imperio

eyes settled on me again-still crumpled

athering, on time," he ordered, adjusting his

toast to Talia tonight and end this ridicu

ance, his arm wrapped tenderly around Talia's slim w

dly buyer I had scheduled walked

orcing down the searing, knifing pain in my spine, I clawed

slid down m

gain price no one on earth could refuse-my only condition bein

ly agreed and initiated the encry

teeth to swallow the screams-every single step felt

before I went, I had to retrieve my

left, and like a fool, I had left it o

n, I drove to the underground garage

aring, bone-deep agony, I limped

avy door handle, but th

hrough my ches

her's amulet, I ne

pushed open the heavy mahog

core leadership was

flanked me, frisked me roughly, and snatched the spare key

blet of liquor laced with harsh drugs and bitter herbs,

world's punitive poison wine, meant to strip me of

he bar, my silver car keys d

ded from on high, holding my

, or you'll never s

xquisitely manicured finger

or's smug, cold smile that never once reached her eyes, flaunting witho