THE EX WIFE'S RECKONING

nt while he watched her. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to stay calm, to act na

ith a soft clink, "I've missed this little fire of

y that like you ever gave me

on his knees. "You always had a choice, sweetheart. You just ma

arply. This wa

he said, her voice steady. "Now t

his phone. He held it between his fingers, tapping the s

her through thick lashes. "What's the rush? Ethan will

come running, and Damian knew it. This wasn't about a simp

of," she pressed.

r a long pause, he smirked and tapped something

stomach

und to a chair, blood trailing from his temple. His

nds." Damian's voice dripp

d expected worse. He's alive, that's all

eyes flickered to the door Damian had locked earlier, the one leading to his office. If

's going through that dang

ing a smile as she slowly

, placing a hand on his chest, "about

s control was impeccable, but she knew how to get u

grip tightening around her wrist. "A

r lips brush the shell of his e

e back of her neck, tilting her face toward his. His breath

er, until her mouth was jus

e reached down, snatched the

s she bolted toward the office door,

ad se

ing, and the heavy sound of Damian's footsteps as he lu

inst the door handle, a

ed it, behind her. Her heart

ainst the door. "Open thi

ian's phone clutched in her grip. She had to move

s still unloc

flew over

he fou

dinates. Pier

he glanced at the cloc

s than thir

have nowhere to go, sweetheart. Th

an escape route. The windows. If she could make it o

AC

or shook violently. Da

ad se

did the only thing she c

ed over it. It was a narrow escape, she nearly butc

alcony railing tightly, glass shards crunching beneath her heels as she balanced precario

furious voice thund

f you jum

wait for the th

legs over the

her teeth, ignoring the pain in her ribs as she scrambled to her feet again. The col

d at the shattered window

ao

ook back. Sh

bones. Her fingers fumbled for Damian's phone in her pocket, her vision blurring as

ed to mo

ar screeched ar

ng second, she though

nted window

n's voice. Sh

rashed o

Before she could reach it,

mi

h hot against her ear as he snar

cking, twisting, bu

en

a

racked thro

. His grip loosened.

her

umped forward, his weight d

she shoved him off. Damian collapsed onto the pavement, his

ds grabbed Naomi, pu

was rough, and urgent, sca

nod, her body s

lowering their weapons, their eyes

led in the

e, forcing her to focus

ping back to reality. "Pi

s go boys... E

e water reflecting the cit

d fully halted, Naomi was out, sprinting toward

t, the scent of salt a

she sa

o a chair, bar

art cl

rawn. His security team fanned ou

turned, startled with hands

hot to the leg. The ma

red instantly, also

ers fumbling with the knots.

ered open, daz

the ropes with a knife from his b

fell away, Nathan slu

at once. The danger. The adrenaline.

ody s

round her waist, anch

im, her breath

ightened.

ens gre

afe and Dami

n pulled her into his arms,

had happened

ways going t

't too late to start again. Sh