Philli

reeked of antise

amily, designed to stitch up bul

s encased

tled with deep

l damage wa

n, clutching a ta

d, resolutely avoiding my eyes. "He

t?" I asked, m

rsary Gala,

was a dry, b

now he wanted me t

a pow

that his little ward was b

to parade hi

on the

as b

tt

up in a limousine that str

al wo

e. She looked like she had just bathe

ie," she said, patting my hand. Her n

your... condition. We're going

d my ha

you will

ed on the passing city.

n the sprawling gar

y father used to teach m

with politicians,

gne and toasted to

was set up ne

d playing

Krystal

Krystal

on their wedding d

itzerland, thinking he was working to ke

e I couldn

d retreated toward the edge o

ded s

see his smile

low, guttu

urn

man sto

d guard dogs. I knew th

one w

iamond-stud

tal'

the kennel w

red, holding out

s ears f

lun

threw my arm up

k into my

d immediate, tearing th

g's weight crushing

!" I s

here in

crowd, Krystal r

e dog on

w the

led hi

ed. "Don't hurt him!

hesi

lear shot

al grabbe

ar," she cried. "

owered

t shoot

ulled her behind him, sh

m the dog that was

er!" Jaxon roa

d for th

more agonizing seconds because he woul

ally dragged th

was a

ked the b

at Jaxon fro

ing Krystal

t even be

ll of panic, but his hands w

the last piece of

t just c

r safety ov