herself into the backseat. She slammed the door shut, cutting of
losed her eyes. Her entire body felt
d her phone. Her fingertips brushe
ed, pulli
no company logo. No title. Just two words printed in sleek, embos
ssing against hers. He had slipped it into her open bag without her even noticing, his long fingers br
iked again. She shoved the card deep into the bottom zipper pocket o
lled up to the curb of a luxury
e watched the numbers climb, feeling a deep, physical r
apartment was pitch black. The only light came from the
kicked off her heels, her bare feet
living room and went straight into
ay cases filled with diamonds stared back at her. A bitter taste coated her tongue. These weren't h
ner. She dragged out a faded black canvas duffel bag. It was the ba
ide. Plain cotton t-shirts. A pair of jeans. He
e finally started packing. Suddenly, the electronic lock on the front door beeped. Heavy, uneven footsteps echoed in the foyer. Chris
ame, smelling of expensive scotch and stale perfume.
ness made Christen squint. Brendon's eyes imme
crossed the room in
are you doing
y sweater and shoved it into the bag. "I'm goi
wrist like an iron cuff. He squeezed hard enough to ma
low and threatening. "We have the family charity
omach churn again. She yanked her arm w
n and stared strai
your puppe
e defaulted to his usual tactic. His face softened into a mask of f
the side, dodging his hand
aid, her voice dropping
s face, replaced by a dark, ugly flush. He realized, in that second
the handles, hoisted it over her shoulder, an
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