mattress, her body a battlefield. A fiery heat radiated from her palm, a throbbing agony that had sprea
ad take
cold eyes, Veronica's smiling portrait, the jeering faces-playing on a loop. She
ss of amber whiskey in his hand. He stared out the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze
t him. He'd expected her to break. He'd expected tears, begging, a desperate plea for mercy at
d him more than any
g over the rim. He grabbed his suit jacket, strode out of the study, and descend
ch of his shoes on fallen leaves was the only sound besides the wind. He reached th
The rotten wood splintered around the lock, and the
ll me? What game are you playing now
could see her shape, a small, huddled form under the thi
," he c
le
d down, his hand closing around her sho
It wasn't the warmth of a living body; it was the dry, unnatural bur
the grimy window, he saw her face. It was deathly pale, her foreh
er chest. The makeshift bandage was soaked through with a dark, ugly
tred pierced his armor. It was a cold, sharp feeling
is pocket, his fingers fumblin
d. "Get to the estate. Now. Bring a ful
ing. What's going on?" his d
u're fired." He hung up wit
vement, he stripped off his own expensive jacket and draped it over
ace, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting impulses. He wanted her to suff
bag in hand, his face etched with concern. He took in the scene-the squal
on, what hav
cut away the silk bandage. The wound beneath was swollen, red, and oozing. He
t out, but his voice lacked convic
ash, administered a powerful shot of antibiotics a
But if she stays in this place, with this damp and cold, the fever will come b
r pale lips parted with each shallow breat
ow growl directed at the doorway, where Ma
he west wing.
ed Aria up, mattress and all, and carried her
n the dark stain on the floor where her blood had dripped. A sudden,
the sharp pain in his knuckles a welcome
in a large, warm bed with clean she
fall of her chest, the paleness of her skin against the crisp white pillows. Then, as if th
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