xtreme wealth. Dark mahogany paneled the walls, and

ed the heav

undone, intensely focused on a video game playing on an ei

he buttons on his controller. "The noise

the edge of the sofa, her hands clasped tightly in

lk to you about the hospital. The billing department c

ead back against the cushions. "I told you I'm not in the mood. Go to t

r palms. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him her mother was dying

orner. She picked up the heavy decanter, her hands sha

g to the private terr

into the room, bringing with i

gs hit the side of the glass with a s

glance at Gisele. He walked straight to the single leather armchair at the head of the room-t

changed instantly. The ai

game controller onto the rug. He smoothed his hair

glass. She walked over to C

aking a sip. He looked at his brother

up from his papers. "S

s at Gisele, pointing to th

Constantine sitting there, radiating cold authority, she didn't dare cause

roller," Channing or

lass coffee table in front of Constantine. Then, sh

she bent over, she felt a sudden, intens

lance

e fixed directly on her. His gaze was heavy, dark, and burning with a su

up quickly, her face burning with a mixtu

s gaze to the glass of water

r a long moment. T

of this glass," Constantine said,

"I... I held i

void of any warmth. "Take it back. Wash your hands. Br

lly cruel, that Gisele felt the blood dr

s, Gisele. You're so clumsy. Go wash it. Try t

who was supposed to protect her. He was laughing a

began to spread thr

he sound of the water running covered the sound of her ragged breathing. She gripped the edges of the marble cou

back of a lower cupboard, she found what she was looking for: a cardboard box of new crystal tumblers, still sealed from the manu

t and placed it ge

his jaw feathered violently. He thought she was enduring this humiliation because sh

ar. "Gisele, come here. My

obot, she walked over to Channing. She stood between his knees.

ather creaked under the immense pressure of his finger

L

older shut. The sound echoed li

iolently shoving G

the rug. She fell hard onto her knees, the im

the room. He looked down at Gisele on the floor, hi

ith rage. He looked at Channing. "Not a cheap motel room for you to grope you

re a brutal,

He looked at his furious br

oice dripping with venom to save his own ego

the pain in her body was nothing compared t

cry. She di

saw him for exactly what he

e met his furious, burning gaze wi

oom. She closed the heavy mahogany door b