ena

ing in protest. Sometime later, I managed to drag my

ne, a deep scowl on his face. He looked up as I e

ded, his voice sharp as broken glass. "I

reen was black. The battery w

bones. "I couldn't get in," I said, my voice hoarse and trembling. "The s

And Carina... Hardin, she's not who you think she is

he sound made me flinch. "I am so sick of you making things up, Athena! Carina is a sweet,

me looming over me. "I am

ysical blow. Disappointed.

. It felt like he had reached into my chest and ripped out my heart, h

r? Over me?" I asked, my voice breaking

a flicker of something-guilt?-in his eyes before it was extin

the bruised flesh. He dragged me, stumbling

arge, glass-enclosed sh

e cold water stole my breath. I gasped, sputteri

ad away, but he grabbed my wrists, holding them in a vic

shut off. Hardin released me, and I collapsed onto th

my elbow had reopened, the blood washed away by the wa

gainst his chest. His voice was a soft murmur against my hair. "Shh, it's

the sofa. He retrieved the first-aid kit and began dabbing an

ss. One minute he was a monster, the next, a

len, stared at him, a flicke

I just fallen in love with a ghost, a

my shattered heart. Late one night, my phone buzzed with a news alert. It was a photo of Hardin and Carina

felt nothing. The part of me that would ha

he front door opened.

gling from her perfectly lipsticked mouth. "Still here?" she asked, blowing a

practiced, almost bored way she inhaled. Har

u smoke?" I aske

She grabbed my uninjured arm and pressed the glowing

lesh filled the air. I immediately grabbed her wrist, twisti

t are you do

ed from the doorway.

ing hysterically. "Hardin, she... she tried to b

lder at me, his eyes filled with an icy rage that terrified me. "Hold

they seized my arms,

easily. You need to be taught a lesson." He looked at his men. "Don'

my cheeks. He knew. He knew my right hand was my life, and he was de

ering cigarette from my hand. Th

my skin. I squeezed my eyes shut and bit my lower lip so hard I tasted b

able. A gut-wrenching, sile

at me. His full attention was on Carina, murmuring comf

n grant me a

behind my eyes, and then, merc