s arms. The leather-clad, gun-toting mafia members parted without a word-some in surprise, some with pity, and others with unre

on-a quiet corner with a plush couch facing the f

d went into the bathroom,

it with a sn

clenched.

the dim light. But now, in his space

lit, makeup smeared across her cheeks in a conflict of color. Old bruises sat beneath fr

swallow the fury rising in him like wildfire. This rage...

lt befo

eg gently i

flin

Nothing to be scared of here," he whispered. "You see

r eyes glassy and unfo

od g

up-and his d

in shock at the sight of their Don on his knees. Others wi

link. Didn't st

them

them w

h shard of glass. She didn't screa

turbed him mor

d to pain

voice a

epped in with a face full of sorrow an

killers. "Get her to take

Kareen moved with maternal precision, turning on the t

and tilted a bottle of water. "Swallow,"

bathroom. Kane excused himself, k

-

irs, in h

re thicker here

hiskey, each clink of the ice agai

ke. One whisper into the right ear and he'd know everything about her-who she

he hel

out of

of res

he made that call,

he already was. Didn't want to destroy w

the man who h

ntil the soft sound of fo

red-rimmed eyes and

mediately, br

sked, voice low.

hugged him. One of the few people who ever

body t

tighter. "Yo

hook he

n she

water hit her bruised skin. How she didn't flinch when the soap touched her cuts. Ho

he has no fight left in her. I scrubbed scars on her back that were old. Faded. Then s

d, a muscle tic

said. "Help her. Anything

dn't know how

fix what he di

was that whoever had broken

e she wa

t the way his blood boiled at her bruises... the way h

wasn't

sessive. Consu

't felt this

ver lik

th this

errified him

--

lle st

body

part

thick velvet curtains. The sheets beneath her were impossibly soft, and for a fleeting se

her ribs reminded her s

, turning her

asn't he

an. Too spacious

a fire burning in the hearth across the room. A low hum-like classical music-played faintly in the

ted to rise

at up-t

her lips as her muscl

Eas

at v

. Firm.

d her head

Ka

nmistakable-raw power, wrapped in a tailored shirt and black slacks, with th

ough part of her screamed she was safe.

she rasped.

simply, stepping in

didn't

cours

antom of her husband's fist

e here," she said, voice low an

his voice dangerously calm. "I don't n

toward him, eyes wi

twitched. Not a smile. Som

see abo

d between them l

vement of her arms sent pain shooting throu

ant, he was

her wrist-not tight, but unyieldin

away. "I do

ewing behind them. But he didn't

slowly, as if counti

t. Always

ward the window, hands tucked into his pockets. "Hell, you can hate me if it

ched her j

ightly, only h

ing in me snapped. You don't just walk past tha

ring at him. "You

jaw ti

ed. "But that d

-almost like

kitten... but you're under my skin.

y before she co

he was scared

self in him. Maybe she was a whore like her

red and broken, she didn't ha

't have the streng

t y