st, dark space on the edge of the Hudson River, illuminated only by

house came a low, guttural laugh. The voice carr

a huge, throne-like chair. The only visible feature was a kingly silhouette and

heavy stone was pre

were named O

he hotel, assuring her she was a pawn in his game, and then let her go. It was about sending

had sustained her vanished, and the full effects of the medication washed over her. A wave of dizziness wash

onsciousness, her hand shot out, her fingers despera

e man's trousers and the cold,

w she had touched him. He had an instinctive, intense aversion to unnecessary physical conta

tered dress to slide up to above her calves. There, just behind her ear, visible in the sliver of moonlig

act same mark he had noticed on the woman in the

movement fluid and silent. He lifted her chin with two fingers, raising her face towards the light. Her skin was cold a

murmured, his voic

anged. Compl

command was soft, but unquestionab

in surprise, but quic

ard me

as executed w

knees, effortlessly carrying her. That scent flooded her senses again-whiskey and tobacco, a cold, refreshin

bed to the

ternoon light of a bedroom more luxurious than any she had ever seen. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered bre

rawl to the door, she found it locked. The window, after a f

A beautiful

riking the hard surface until her knuckles turned

response. O

he memory of her hand clutching her cold ankle, and the memory of an invisible

dn't just use her as a pawn in

ere. And she h