und my wrist. The contrast between his dark, furious eyes an

. Without a word, he peels away the bloody paper

to my freezing skin. My heart pe

" I whisper

Ethan. Her eyes rake over his unbranded suit and the che

t his chest. She sizes him up. He looks clean, and his suit, while plain, is impeccably fitted. He has to have more money than that loser Clarnce. "That means you ow

imself from laughing. She's extorting Ethan Patterson for a hundred grand. She has no idea sh

is the look of an apex predator staring at a dying

t look. It's the look of a man

n speak, I s

my arms out, placing my small body entirely

is breath catche

as been the weapon. No one-absolutely no one-h

ce echoing in the ruined shop. "My marriage is my b

. She raises her hand, aiming a

fts his weight, ready to grab

e. I duck, letting her han

cares about is money. If she thinks Ethan

ing Doris dead in the eye

His trust fund is locked until he's sixty, and he has f

my back. I feel him stiffen. He lets ou

s shoulders are shaking violently. He is suffocating

hits her like a physical blow.

s, her eyes darting to

pair. "I have to pay for his meals! If

vered in a contagious disease. She

at me. "You married a useless loser! Do

sins. "We're leaving

to the door. Gale steps in her way,

y. "You're under arrest for fe

egs, howling curses at me as they drag her out of t

ice cars drive away, leavi

dle of the wreckag

The coldness in his eyes is gone, replaced by a strange