of her ankle. His expression remained a blank canvas of indifference. The rain dripped from his perfectly tailored suit as he pushed open the he

a physical weight, pressing down o

tched his bleeding head, the sight of his cousin doing nothing to c

ored Ethan completely. Instead, he reached out, his fingers cool and firm as they clamped around Chloe's chin, for

oke, his voice a low rumble that cut through

thumb brushing over the mud on her

statement stunned both Ch

g. The sudden movement sent a fresh wave of pain through her ankle, and she let out a small gasp. He ignored

damp wool filling the enclosed space. He looked at his dri

," Julian

sharply, the reinforced bumper slamming into the side of the black SUV Marco had parked nearby. The crunch of metal was deafening,

hloe could see Ethan in the side mirror, screaming c

of the cold, the lingering effects of the drug, and the terrifying realization of her new reality. The man who had saved

er eyes fell to his hand, resting on his knee. A thin line of fresh blood was seeping from a cut

s flickered down to his own han

and held no warmth. It was the voice of a man used

snake coiling a

s." She offered nothing else. No last name, no contex

d against Ethan. He was a monster, but for now, he was her monster. She had to make herself valuable en

decision. She would use the very thing Ric