house was still, cold, and

her frame like a second skin. The stylist had picked it-along with tailore

Mr. Knight

curled

be a doll in his showcase. A prett

per. Liam Knight might've rescued her from the wreck

rapped the ca

makeup, she didn't even look like herself. She looke

d. Compos

omach

pulled on a plain white tank top and jeans instead. She tore her hair from

ience, he was about

barefoot, drinking orange j

leaning against the do

was on your clock,

ance, then flicked back to her e

ested in playing house with

ou," he said calmly. "

"No. I signed a contract to stay here. To

ome. You eat my food. You wear what I give you.

around the glass. "I

dropped.

faster. His gaze bore into hers with something dangerous be

toy," she said

e not. You're something

th separated them. Alora stood he

ad. "But fighting me means you're thinking abou

ose," she

eady did. The moment you wa

throat t

orst

as r

night. Not just her relati

her illusio

house with purpose. She passed through the east wing, wh

private

is was one of them. Sh

ce, recklessness, maybe even curiosity.

opened

. Black walls, minimalist décor, a king-sized bed dressed

epped

re. Like the room itsel

a framed photo-one of Liam, much younger, with a woman w

mo

y he held her in the photo. Not affect

ttle thing,

a fr

the doorway,

, but she refuse

ould happen if I broke

behind him. "And here I thought you

im, chin raised. "I'

d be," he

't move to

r, to the window, and stoo

-quietly, almo

ve was a sickness. That it mak

a bl

r. Just kept staring

ed. "And I watched my father drink himsel

d crawled thr

weapon. And I've spent my life making sure

didn't

o face her. "Bleeding. Drenched. Brok

es dar

ed to hold that fire.

eath c

she said again, q

murmured. "But

ved c

her spine hit the

to touch her, but to

I will break every defense you have

l never

d. "That's what

ke a battlefield. And her body betrayed her with the

did somethi

im, opened the doo

idn't

slam

im standing in

Alora coul

taring at the cei

riest part wasn

er respo

er feel s

lies, the heartbreak-he st

ied her more th

rs weren't sup

s weren't suppo