The Silent Bride's Billion Dollar Contract

car felt charged. Gerhard sat close to her, his thigh pressi

ed, Marta gaspe

ard ordered

iving room. He sat her down and

rkened again. Thunder r

or had given her starting to kick

le in front of her. He pointe

I want to see what wa

fingers fumbled with th

ied with ribbon. And a paintbrush. The handle was broken, t

was a painter. He wasn't famous. He p

ked up the brush. He turned

aid, his voice surprisingly

surprised. "How

"I did a background check on you, Dawn. Standard proc

ourse. It

worn bristles. He placed the brush back in the box with

ve se

said dismissively. "I'v

e pack. Gerhard took the ice and hel

" he said. "I

elids grew heavy. She lean

the sound of rain

e night, the w

hunder shook

n the penthouse. She was in the subway tunnel. The lights were out. The air wa

reathe. Her th

heets. She tried to scream, but no soun

couldn't count. Her f

the door b

h overhead light, but the warm glow

aw

ing sweatpants and a t-shirt.

g, her face blue

ed. He grabbed her shoul

im, her eyes wi

ice low and steady, an anchor in the storm. "

didn't pull her into his arms. Instead, he took her clenched fist

pressing his thumb into the

thing. The steady pressure i

The car crash faded. The smell

ke. She cried, her shoulders shaking, grippi

r. With his other hand, he reached out and stroke

he whispered.

e of the bed, a silent guard, until her ragge