a's eyes landed on the sweaty, bloa

sharp slap caught his cheek, and he

s she scrambled upright

ed. Now, here she was, trapped and forced to fac

his lips curling in an ugly grin.

st and tossed her back onto the bed. "Did I s

ught her, keeping he

d to a lamp on the nightstand-o

, brought it crashing down on Rocco's head, a

face. He had expected obedience, not

but Juliana delivered a swift kick to h

escaping t

ounded as she hit the living room of the hotel suite-only to spo

oldness. If she went for the main exit, his man

erate idea. It hung just three feet away-close eno

loor. One misstep, and there would b

options r

Rocco, she knew he'd neve

wide, sturdy strips, knotting them into a makeshift rope before tying one en

o the other side, maybe she

her pulse race, fear clawin

afer routes lef

risking eve

er breath. She stretched out, fingers barely brushing the meta

outed, "You've got some nerve, bitch! Th

na, twisting tighte

ed, blade gleaming as he ha

rt pounding, hurled herself toward the ne

bling as her grip started to slip. The longer s

his eyes. "Running won't save you. Once I get

at, he disappeared back ins

meant to do-he was headed nex

osing in from above, fear threatened to swallow he

crept in, hea

s shut, bracing for

used. "Are you in the middle of some darede

a, and she looked down to see a st

adn't counted on-brought tears to her eyes

sy grin. "I'm not really in the habit of helping

hatever you ask," begged Juliana

fingers threatened to

es. After a moment's pause, he smirked and replie