th panic. She saw Daniel on the floor, clutchi

e looked up at Ethan, her face contorted with r

than' s leg, confused

han started to explain,

a dog attacked him!" she shrieked, pointi

t her mind was already made up. Daniel was the

e was just scared," Ethan

knelt beside Daniel, her touch gentl

ickle of blood appearing

ned to Ethan, was murderous. Sh

dangerously low. "He' s a mena

had followed her in. "Take that dog. And

sabella, no! He' s just a d

ront of Max, shielding

still don' t get it, do you, Ethan? Y

otect Max, but he was still reeling from the pain in his

ified, as they g

reaking. "He saved you once! Don't you rememb

puppy, had barked and snapped ferociously, driving the man away. Isabella

at him now. Her face

he repeated t

uggling, yelping M

e drowning. He sank to his knees. He heard

le

him died

feet, supporting him. "Let's

at Ethan as she led D

absolute, crushing. Max was

membered. This was the Isa

n named Martha who had known Ethan since he was a boy, f

hey... they took Max to the ol

need her

no contact with the outside world. It was like his first l

. His proximity to Isabella led to

is hand and the emotional agony a suffocati

ut for any lingering, microscopic shard of feeling he might have h

erish from an infection in his hand that wa

to his feet, unsteady but resol

desk. He used it to pry open the locke

ut determined. He went to the main livi

had a small bandage on his templ

as raspy, but cl

her expression cold

you are dead to me. Whatever existed between us, whatever history, whatever conne

d uncomfortable. Isabella' s eyes flick

final emotional detachment. He was se

ting for a response. He had to get