assie stood over her, chest rising and falling evenly. She flex

ic shriek tore from her mouth. She threw herself o

up. Her eyes were wide w

d, hands curled into claws, aiming her sharp nai

leaned her torso backward. Kathleen's fingernai

at the two women gr

said, her voice dripping wi

She gasped for air like she

miliated. His fragile pride shattered. A

ged at

massive fist, aiming a devastating punch at her head. The

n the rug, her core tightening a

rward, Cassie ducked and tw

he momentum of his missed punch pulled his b

ve the toe of her designer heel har

sephus cried out in pain. His leg buck

screaming. A tall porcelain vase was knocked over in the panic, s

of her eye, Cass

eapot full of scalding hot tea from the coffee table. With a sc

s heart

hrow pillow from the armchair

e velvet, sending up a cloud of steam. A few drops hit Cassie's forear

d, steaming pillow asid

d Kailee in two quick strides. She gra

rcing Kailee's head to sna

utal, back-to-back slaps across Kailee's

f Kailee's mouth. Her eyes rolled back slig

collapsed onto the sofa like a broken

odshot, entirely devoid of reason. He limped to the corner of t

wildly toward Cassie's head. The metal shaft s

ckward, rolling over the

k glass exploded. Shards flew in every direction, slicing th

e grabbed a heavy brass table lamp, ripping the cord from the wall. She

He let out a feral scream as he stepp

e brass lamp, muscles burning w

o death!" Kathleen sh

's jaw

ard swing, a deafening crash ech

sephus's golf club

orce that splintered the heavy brass lock and sent th

sunlight floode

, silhouetted against the light. Pure, su

he house. His face was a mask

n her throat. Her grip o

wed by a dozen men in black tactical suits. The bodyguards f

om and locked onto Cassie, backed into

de across the room, ignoring the glass cr

ed her hard against his solid chest. His large arm wra

sharp, clean scent of cedar and cold air filled

. He stared at the billionaire in his living room. His han

d to look at Josephus. His

oice was quiet, but it carried