eart. You're going to
's ears. The nurse was adjusting the dial on the PCA pump, incr
mbling legs. "No right at all. I don't care who his boss is. You are a patient, not a corporat
medication was beginning to take the edge off, turning the sharp, biting agony into
. She thought she had d
was
with enough force to slam against the wall. The sharp crackh it the scent of expensive wool, freezing temperatures, and
stood in t
s face was striking-sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, dark hair swept back from a high forehead. But his eyes were what held her captive. Th
r face flushed with anger. "You cannot b
t o
t, but it carried the absolute authority of a man who owned
g to stand between him and the bed. "
st her ribs, but she didn't back down. Instead, she immediately turned and slammed her palm on the emergency call button on the wall. "S
she said, but her voice
r and approaching the bed. "But until th
rd she was sure he could see it through her thin hospital gown. This was the man from the void. This was her husband. The
own, his hands gripping the metal rails of the bed, his face inches
g in short, shallow gasps. She didn't know this man. She didn't know what he was talking ab
rew it onto the bed, the heavy paper landing heavily on her stomach. The
njured in Aspen "Accident"; Vaughan Steadfast by His Side. Below the headline was a photograph. Holt, his face etched with concer
wrecker," Holt snarled, his gray eyes burning into hers. "They'
the man looming over her. She felt nothing. No jealousy
ouldn't. The silence seem
uch is it going to take for you to end this circu
above her collarbone, his grip like a vise. He yanked her upward, trying to
nstantaneous a
hite, then black at the edges. A scream tore from her throat, raw and guttural, but she couldn't hear it over
Stop! You're
se launched herself at Holt, grabbing hi
his face twisted in a mask of furious disbelief.
l of his coat sleeve. Tears streamed down her face, her vision swimming with black spots.
rp, insistent ringing
onto the mattress, a broken ragdoll. She lay there, gasp
rmation was terrifying. The rage, the violence, the madness-it all evaporated, r
d with Diandra. "No, no, don't worry. I'm handling it. I'll be there as soon as I ca
wn at Diandra, who was still trembling uncontrollably, her face ashen, her
Chelsi," he said, his voice flat. "Until you
at him. He turned and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall, l
ked at Diandra's ashen face, at the sweat soaking her hospi
the intercom on the wall. "Get Dr. Finch i
merciful void. The last thing she heard was the frantic beeping of the heart
had married
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