e monster Kylie had made of me. I fell into a deep, da

named Martha, worried over me. "You need t

. I had always been careless with my health, push

one rang. It

, his voice clipped and urgent. "Some sleazy producer

didn't ask if I was recove

efore I coul

a woman who could be hurt, who could be

augh escap

out of bed and went. It w

in a VIP booth, cornered by a large, drunk man.

ng over. I moved to shield her

dizziness hit me, my movements slug

the brunt of his attack. He backhanded me across the face, t

oded behi

arrived and dra

e just shuddered in disgust at t

her voice full of revulsion. She turned

, the familiar, sterile smell of antiseptic fille

d. "You have a concussion. And your fe

hollow. Pain had been my constant c

heard their voices

"Are you okay, my lo

about me. He never

ng into my very bones. I was so tired. Tired

e was a mask of detached concern. "The doctor says you'll b

voice laced with an i

," he offered, a pathet

ye. "I want to leave," I said.

here would you go? Who would hire you, looking like... that?" He ges

ance was

had suppressed for ye

radley! Not as a bodyguard, not as a substitute! I loved you, the man! For three years, I de

the first time, he looked truly stunned. He see

my words were a physical

dawning on his fac

was t

d him, my voice dropping

lease, as if a heavy chain h

from my arm. The alarm started to

over,"

ood up, my body trembling but res

voice laced with a new, unfamilia

op. I didn'

om, out of the hospita

ime in three ye