rst into

rently terrified. He saw Ava,

t ask qu

, shoving her wi

t the opposite wall. Star

isorienting, shot

ina, cradling her. "Are

his face contorted with

the room, presumably to

the wall, her

she wasn't in

d opulent, on Julian's sprawling N

hone, no internet acc

egularly. Not fo

to tor

t a placeholder, Ava

could love someone lik

s were l

her family, or Liam. If

ing with Julian in the ma

ionship, her hand often restin

ina purred. "We're thinking

le pregnancy, her eyes

's gaze: a flicker of fear. Fear that J

young woman named Maria, secr

h Ms. Reed for visiting y

, cold

ntained more. D

vestigation. Corruption. Treason. It' s a

ence, Ava knew.

apsed, the weight of this