nt, heavy and immovable. She stared at Clifton, who stood just
lass down onto the marble counter with enough force to send a crack spider-webbing u
. Terrified, she forced her stiff, trembling legs to move, dragging her feet across the thick carpet
king taking his throne. He crossed his long legs and leaned back, his dark eyes dragging o
her feet. "Take off that ridiculous hoodie," he com
ion warred in her eyes-a flash of fire against the terror. Her hand
st her skin. "This is the black market, sweetheart. How
ly flooded her eyes, blurring his cold, handsome face into a watery smear
od there in a thin, worn tank top that did nothing to hide her trembling. Goo
A sharp, unexpected flash of regret lanced through his chest, hot and unwelcome. He buried it instantly, cru
ng shadow over her that stole the air from her lungs. He was so close she could sm
strong fingers wrapping around her nape with unyielding pressure. He pul
overing right next to her ear,
erile equipment. They don't care if you bleed out on the table." His grip on her neck tightened, holding her in
force of a sledgehammer. Her psychological defenses-alr
with all her remaining strength, pushing him back a step. "Shut up!" she sc
down at her, his eyes unreadable. "Still want
cally, tears streaming down her cheeks in hot rivers. "No," she ch
woman fleeing a burning building. She grabbed the heavpeed. His long arm shot past her, his palm slamming flat against the door, pushing it
quietly, his voic
d herself against the wall, her chest heaving. "You c
still blocking the door. "I'm stopping you from making a choice that will get you killed
until she hit the floor in a crumpled heap. She pulled her knees to her chest, buried he
the street to die. She cried out of pure, paralyzing fear
heart, grinding it to pulp. He had only wanted to scare her away from the black market, to terrify her into self-pres
self to her level. He reached his hand out, he
n mid-air, hovering
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