in a heap on the floor. The metal was cold against her burning skin. She pr
g halos. Her heart was racing so fast it felt like it was vibra
he wasn't in the lobby. The floor was covered in thick, patterned carpet. The ha
etched out before her, long and intimidating. She had to find help. She
he wall, using it to support her weight. She stumbled down t
d with brass numbers. She tried the handle of on
ling her under, making her limbs heavy and her thoughts muddy. She was goi
rom the others. It was larger, more imposing. A presidential suite. Anne
le turned. The door sw
ged against the doorjamb, preventing it from closing completely. Annemari
he marble floor of the entryway. The cold stone was a blessing against her flus
massive windows. She could see the skyline of Manhattan, a glittering tapestry
e could manage was a weak cough. She needed water. She saw a bottle on a glass table
with trembling fingers and poured the water directly into her mouth, spilling half of it down he
spent. She was trapped in a cage of her own making. S
e heard
ng. Footstep
toward the source of the noise. A door at the far end of the suite had opened.
ath towel slung low on his hips. Water droplets clung to his chest, catching the light fr
toward the entryway. His eyes adjusted to the dar
you?" a low, dange
drug, she recognized that voice. She recognized that
ll. She had walked stra
reathed, her voic
the plush rug. He stopped a few feet away from he
at her, taking in the wet dress, the wild eyes, and the angry r
that moment to drag her under completely. Her eyes rolled
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