mind strangely clear. The party was winding down,

railing, a drunken investor lee

ing," he slurred.

, her voice trembling with w

trike. He crossed the room in three strides, grabbed the

ed, his face contorted with a fury I ha

jaw. The sound of bone hitting bone echoed through the now

People were shouting. The inve

his face pale. "Aurora, do something! You' re the onl

n party would be a PR nightmare. It was my duty as his fia

, I stepped forward. "

his arm. It was l

d unfocused. When he saw me, he did

he yelled, and with a violen

balance from my injuries and the slick marble floor, sent m

fe

the pavement, slammed against the

eyes. The room tilted, the lights blurring i

nd flying to my head. It came

, I heard Kiera' s voice, a pe

g her arms around his neck. "That man was

ht, forgot the blood, forgot

e softening instantly. He scooped her into his arms, cradl

ng in my direction. He left me kneeling in a growing

ht solidifying in my mind. He would let

ture for support. Liam rushed over, his face a mess of panic

ce surprisingly steady

eaving a small trail of blood be

that matched the bleakness in my soul. I hailed a cab, the driver' s eyes wid

to call home for now, was a blur of pain and rain-streaked ci

I cleaned and bandaged the gash on my head myself, my movements slow and deli

ction in the mirror. I didn' t rec

ox, were mementos from my three years with Cohen. A dried flower from our first

arried it to the fir

e flames. I watched the photos curl

He had promised me protect

l, tragic lie i

dden, violent noise from outside startled me. The soun

n't Cohen. It was two large, menacing strangers. One of

onscious thought was a flash

and feet bound with zip ties. The air was thic

s face cruel in the dim light.

ge of pure terror

of money to have some fun with you before we get rid of you. S

ohen? No. It

tive, but this level of violence... it seemed orche

eached for the zi

, kicking out with all my strength. My foot connected

ack door of the van. It wasn't latched properly. It flew open, and I

my heart hammering with a terror so profound it was paralyzing. I

for my