Desperate Measures

study. Her body stumbled backward impulsively, her heart pounding noisily in her chest. She rushed for

is body through the broken glass. His silhouette was frightful, shaped by the roaring night outside and the glimmering

ce cut through the mayhem. She emerged in the

avy oak desk as the infiltrator advanced toward her. The intruder's face was masked, his figure cov

e study. The figure ducked and rolled to escape the bullet before charging at

ly with fear. The intruder was unstoppable, swinging t

is Mr

lt as Melinda screamed at her, "

aying back to help Melinda, but the sound of footsteps

ved with extreme fury. He was quiet–he didn't need to speak, his stance and appearance sai

ter. In a swift motion, he disarmed the masked man with a ruthless strike to

" Aldo snarled, his vo

t Aldo wasn't done with him. Grabbing him by the

Aldo demanded, his voice so low and me

ellion, but it was obvious he gett

ings," he snapped, his

vers down her spine. He was the reason

he masked man's shirt pulling him closer. " Don't make me r

d in his mouth. Melinda let out a choked shout, but it was already too late. The intrud

loor without so much as a second glance. His eyes focused on where the body had dro

ing far off, as though he wasn't affected by the entire

ting to Liya briefly before she turn

hat always accompanied him seemed to inflate, shoving everything else out of its surroundings. L

really behind this? The same Damian who had arranged this marriage?

ould read into her soul–into every unrevealed act she had always kept to herself. His mouth moved and she

she had ever heard it. His eyes shifted to the shards o

rvous voice, her hands still trem

ng in a way to express his satisfaction with the answer. Then without any furthe

voice sounding a little firmer now tha

ating his next words. When he finally replied, his voice was curt

ya voiced, her

he invasion was to remind me t

er's debt, but this felt like it was more than just her brother's

ked, her voice rising with fear. "Why w

read. "That's because you are a party to this game now

of the game? What ar

for my protection. To act as a shield that makes me look vulnerable...even mortal." He stopped before he continued,

arriage, a marriage to pay off her brother's debt. It was deeper than she tho

, her face taut. "The perimeter is secured, but we need to act

s attention back to Liya, his eyes narrowing. "I'm not letting

looming around and being with Aldo meant being in danger. She didn't want to be part of his world or any

nt to be a part of this." She mutte

ened briefly. "You don

ely while she could. But when she thought of her reckless brother, Liam, the

's really going on. W

ater. Right now, what you need to know is this is j

world with no ammo–just the desire to free her brother.

sper, "I don't trust anyone, not even you. But right now, you have to trust me. Stay with me and I'll

came with a price. "Trust you?" she repeate

"For now, yes

heavy cloak. She wasn't just caught in a dangerous game, sh