The Discarded Heiress's Spectacular Comeback

outside with the rest of you

dge of the thick parchment grazed her cheekbone, leaving a thin red mark. She didn't flinch. The s

e dead leaves, landing in the thick mud co

rop in her body temperature, clawed at the wet dirt, desperately trying to piece together a small sketch of a daisy her late mother h

e pinned her le

inst Alycia's knuckles. The older woman leaned just en

arely audible over the roaring thunder

breaths of freezing air. Before she could scream, two massive hands clamped down on her bicep

. Her bare feet scraped

know she's stealing it!" Alycia sc

her face. The metallic clang vibrated in her teeth.

. She stared through the bars. Rolf turned his back to her, wrapping a thick arm around Serap

and stealing the last ounce of heat from her skin

-black highway. The fever she had been fighting for two days suddenly spiked. Her vision blurred, the edges of

light tore thro

sical blow. The sharp screech of tires

e. Her musc

of where she stood. The sheer force of the moment, combined with her own failing strength, made her lose he

man in a sharp suit, holding a black

" C.J. yelled, his v

with shaking fingers and grabbed the wet fabric of C.J

ar window of the Rolls-Royce rolle

m Houston looked like a statue carved from ice. His jaw was locked tight. His piercing blue eyes swept

eezing muscles to lift her head. Her lips parted,

than a second. He lifted his left wrist, his eyes

rain. It was a low, vibrating baritone that carried ab

ng in his hand. "Sir, she's in

cked through the silent car. "I said clear the road. Pu

oked down at Alycia, then back at th

ned hotter than her fever. She stared into that narrow gap

pants. He hooked one arm beneath her shoulder

rm air and the scent of expensive

a's soaked body sank against the black leather. The door shut with a heavy

the fever, and the humiliati

sness slipped was Hiram Houston's expressionl