v

t smell of antiseptic; it sme

hecking the fe

Thump.

only thing tethering me to r

dow, her back rigid, postu

voice tight. "But your stress levels

yself into a sitting position despite

ians," my mother said,

Hayes women didn't

e don't litigate

e movement fluid and predatory. She touched

ghter," she said softly, her voice devoid

y voice rasping. "Michael knows to

ly dismantling Michael'

ded me

family meeting in the li

e room, stripped of his usual arrogance, looking less

aking, his voice

our blood," Old Hayes said. "Y

outed, sweat gleaming on his fore

, dismissing him with a wave of h

e, pointing a manicured nail at the screen. "He has no acce

t enough

replacing the fear. It was a dark, heavy

nt him broke. I

g at the man on the screen who had once held me. "He

like him only care ab

away the only thing h

do you

g her gaze. "Teach me how

sn't a nice smile; it w

oys reputations before the

he Irish, the Triads to know that Michael Thorne is a trai

on

rena?"

t blank, a mask of t

a Hayes. Serena

. I found, to my surpr

him," I said. "

not well

s. I need to seve

w respect, seeing a reflection

go in there as a mat

is dead,

ff the e

e hospital gown. Let him see the b

ch would make my strike hit har

e hallway, flank

to burn hi