strange sense of detachment as she packed

ic, to the organization. There was

et, a vibrant crimson silk she' d bought years ago on a w

er in dark, practical cl

f her jeans and t-shirt and

o her usual attire, a splash of defi

man staring back was someone Dominic had ne

en. Chloe stood there, her eyes wide

eked, her composure cracking. "That' s... you

ebrow. "Really? I thin

You' re still trying to compete, aren

t Ava, nails

oe' s clumsy attack easily, catching her wrist

Chloe," Ava said ca

radling her wrist, tea

ion shifted to one of

hloe screamed, just as Dominic'

e scene: Chloe cowering, Ava s

is going on?"

unning to him. "Just because I told her to

a moment on the red dress, a flicker of surp

He turned fully to Ava,

va, and I swear..." He took a s

she loved, or thought she loved, was about to st

ng the utter lack of fear in her eyes, or perha

ut," he snarled, his voice

e' d twisted it slightly dodging

king her hair, all his attention focused on comfor

avoritism, his complete disregard for her s

it. The f

out to leave the house for good,

ssion for him. He held a small bot

r than it had been all day. "Chloe told

covering his ow

r foot. His touch, once a

oticed. "I' m sorry about earlier. Chloe... she' s young, a b

his eyes filled wit

complicated. It' s for the business, to keep Eli off our backs. Once he' s

"Here, drink this. You look ex

datives over the years, a side effect of chronic stress and the occa

tell-tale bitterness of a

er. He was trying to drug her,

playing on her lips. "You always

n, pretending to be lulled by his f

y his game, o