From Ashes: A Second Chance

e pain, Ms. Ortega," she said, her voice professionally g

ief, for the promised numbness t

ever

a raging, all-consuming inferno. It was a thousand times worse than the

violent, uncontrollable spasms. A strangled cry t

e empty syringe, then the vial it came from. "This isn'

pital bed, she had found a way to inflict one last, exquisite torture. She

tlefield. He had what he wanted. The marrow that would save Julia' s lif

re, unadulterated hatred. The way she had flinched from his tou

him. He had to go back. He had to see Hazel. He had to make sure the painkiller was working. H

Watts, we need you. Ms. Norman'

ic snapped, pu

, it' s

mself it was just guilt, a need to ensure the person he' d just brutalized was comfortable. It

en her door

ed, her body contorted in a seizure, a low, keening sound of a

ppening?" he roared,

old her still. "The medicine! It wa

ginable pain, but his order for relief had somehow led to her being poiso

g hot. She latched onto him, her grip surprisingly

voice a furious bellow. "Find out

rying to soothe her, whispe

was checking her vitals

he' s... she' s

No pain could be worse than the guilt that was consuming him. S

st was still. The desperate g