ss by his side, playing the rol

ravery was splashed a

secret, continued her du

spered endearments, saw

essive than ever,

e master bathroom, her movements

alve on her arm,

ly. He stopped, his eyes

d, his voice devoid of warmth, but w

... I burned m

ie. She rar

at the ranch... you weren't

augh. "Me? At your family

" he said, hi

she was worthless, someone

igned, bitter cynicism, "it would have been to loot t

sgust flare in

alse depravity. "Always looking for an angle. A rich family's

ned into a mas

able," he said, his v

e retorted, though the words

sed. "I don't wan

ng over her. He hated her. It was what she

oom, his disgust a

he pain of her burns was nothing

d his hatred. It was a victory, bu

pproached Ava with a see

dress fitting? My usual driver is unavai

ess never asked her for anythin

The money was st

sedan through Beverly Hills

intersection. The l

ared to

ss screamed,

med on t

r, fling it open, and tumble out onto the asphalt, just as another c

hadn't even been close to hitt

utching her leg, a theatri

omed on her pale desig

at her, a strange, triumphant glint in he

was s

a halt behind them. He m

side, his face a m

What ha

va. "She... she tried to kill me! Sh

ds Ava. His eyes were bla

's supposed DUI – it all coalesce

ice raw with anguish and

an explanation. H

was a monster, ca

e of the car, yanked her doo

snarled, his face inches from her

ed even Ava in her daze, h

ed the

aiming the heavy se

the glint of the headlights, the roar o