Bound by deception

or your bro

slam into me l

er. My heart pounds so violently I feel it in my throat. The air in

an't be

eyes bore into mine calmly,

e," I whisper, my

mber liquid in his glass. He takes a slow sip, savoring

iling up," he says, voice smooth, contr

hip. My fingers tighten aroun

Li

k breaths, tubes and monitors surrounding his frail body. The doctors sai

ice I ca

You think you can just buy me

nd confident. "I don't t

ff his tongue. Like I've already l

oot to my feet. "Find another pa

rn to st

oice lazy, unhurried. "And your b

I fr

l races do

ands tremble at my sides, my

s. "The hospital has already sent its final notice," he continues. "Wit

's blu

e has

phone. My fingers fumble as I open my messages. I scroll frantic

ification

nt Due. Urgent

pital wasn'

, thick and suffocating. My s

barely a whisper. "I

sive desk like a predator closing in on wounded prey. "You've

gers curl

his money. Damn thi

s gaze. "Why me?" My voice is

expression turns unread

's not a

And if I say yes, you'

ery las

lench m

isn't a

t nev

I snap. "I'l

turns, slow and vict

hate

feeling power

ick stack of papers. A contract. He slides it

"S

itate. I grab the pen with stiff

ges and pages of legal jarg

visio

t process

is Daniel lying in

s me, completely at ease. Like he's done

pen to paper and

abella

Do

. My pulse pounds so hard I feel di

ing it like he already knows every wor

ans back, expre

e more

of dread crashe

u live

ink. "Ex

ge on paper won't do. I need the

o. No

e an apart

ht." He taps the contract

stomach

gain, scanning furious

e's r

course,

w hard. "Any

s. His presence is overwhelming. His scent, rich

ngers tilting my chin up,

h is light b

ong to me no

breath

ut it's firm. Possessive. L

pulse racing. "I don

n just c

We'll

natch the contract off the

a deal with

here's no