Eight Losses, One Last Hope

ed, her eyes glittering with a cruel sa

the air knocked from my lungs. Every memory, every whispered promise,

e embroidered pouch in my han

nged f

rotective instinct surged through me. I was a mothe

a pathetic, desperate fight. The fabric tore, and the pouch

ny, silv

wood, each one a tiny, gleaming t

on her lips. Then she raised her foot, her sharp h

l. "Such a shame. But they never should ha

the floor, trying to shield the s

eached for the last one, her heel came down hard on the back of my hand

e, her breath smelling of strawberries

avy glass paperweight from my desk and

But through the haze, a surge of pure, unadulterated rage gave me

s. She gasped, stumbling backward, and threw he

anded, the do

. He saw Gisele on the floor, crying, and me, di

Gisele into his arms, cradling

ou do?" he

e tiny locks in my bruised hand, th

r at me. "I just came to see if she was okay, and she attacked

him the truth, but the words wouldn't come.

of something-recognition, guilt-passed through his exp

le's hair, his voice a low, soothing murmur.

me. "I'm taking Gisele to the

loud enough for me to hear. "She's unstable. As her

lculation in his eyes. He was actually consi

, shaking my head

plea. "Aidan, I'm pregnant. It's your child. I was going to l

He and Gisele left, leaving me in the ruins of

ter, they

ms. They didn't listen to my

they dragged me out of the ho

bored, unsympathetic eyes. "Th

ngless smear as my last hope died. I was being taken away, and the man I lov

a vice-like grip. I saw him then, standing under th

da

inst my captors. "Help me! How could you

oubt in his eyes. A glimmer of the man I use

s a

opped just inches away, close enough for

ce flat and devoid of emotion. "You hurt Gisele. Yo

l whisper. "Don't worry. Once you've learned your lesso

He wasn't saving me. He was impri

thing to him. A pawn in his game of revenge, a

my children-they w