allway, pressing the phone hard against

r voice tight with anxiety. "The guest is causing Angus visible distress. His he

he hung up the phone and sprinted toward the elevator, j

reet. She ignored the red crosswalk signal, dodging

river to speed to the hospital. She pulled a crumpled fi

daline gripped the plastic door handle so tightly her knuckle

rance. Adaline leaped out before the vehicle fu

ely bypassing the reception desk. She ran down the st

room and burst through the heavy door, her che

fectly groomed in his custom suit. "How did you even get in here?" Adaline hissed, knowing the strict protocols of the ICU. Chandler offered a smug

t monitor beside his bed was beeping slightly f

" Adaline demanded. Her voice was sharp,

d the front of his suit jacket. He looked at her, using his

looked at her brother. "Angus, put your h

adphones over his ears, sin

dler by the arm, her nails digging fierce

room and into the empty, brightly lit corrido

ainst the hospital wall. "W

jaw tightening. "I was cornered, Adaline. Kirk Capital used their fin

r, painting Fallon as the sole v

cket. Her thumb found the screen of her phone. She pr

l space. He lowered his voice to a desperate whis

er stomach chu

ered, his eyes locked on hers. "But only if you agree to become my

ckened. He was proposing to keep her as a hid

nd held her phone up between them. The

n absolute shock. The col

hard across the face. The sharp, violent so

s reddened cheek. A flash of dark, possessive

this recording directly to Fallon Kirk, and I will personally deliver a copy to the most vicious gossip columnists in New York. I'm sure the

. "Without my money, your brother will be kicked out of

y straight, refusing to let him see her tremble. She walked