y, my voice a dry rasp. It was true. The n

my head and got lost," I lied, av

scared me so much." He pulled me into a hug, his grip tight and p

. He ran a hot bath for me and laid out a set of hi

echoing in the small apartment. He made my favorite soup, the one he always ma

ace, completely at home in this squalid little kitchen, playing

he said, pushing th

head. "I'm

e, but there was an underlying command. "I'll t

go anywhere," I s

eet, and forced me out the door. His grip on my arm

place with crystal glasses and waiters in tuxedos. The kin

or us," he said, leading me to a

city skyline. A single table was set for two with

said, his smile full of false genero

gry," I repeated, my sto

still upset about last nigh

l," I lied, looki

wrong? Are you cold?" He took off his jacket and draped it over m

t. A beautiful,

oft. "I'll go get you some medicine from t

my forehea

ed onto the plush sofa, my body t

commotion at the doo

, ma'am! It's reserved

way!" a sharp

rmed in, her face a mask of fury. She was

er eyes widening in disbelief before

ed. "What are y

sively on the marble floor. "Gavin told me he s

k. I just stared at her, the wo

you? Pathetic." She moved closer, looking down at me with contempt. "Let me make this v

rds tasting like ash in my mouth. It was a lie

contorted. "Wh

married," I said, a b

setup. For a moment, a flicker of doubt crossed h

ra is dead. She died in a car crash years ago.

unny. She thought I was pretending t

at her bodyguar

arp command, they moved forward and

're doing?" I yelled,

in the chair meant for Gavin, crossing her legs ele

" she said coolly. "Beat her. And when you're done, break her ha

ted, panic rising in my c

ass. "Laws are for little people. My fa

ngs, and black spots danced in my vision. They hit me again and again. Pai

cut through the haze. "Get on your knees and li

" I spat, my

rage. "Break her h

e a vise. He started to bend it backwards. I squ

e!" a waiter shoute