Thorn

t an embarrassed growl, his heavy, foul breath sti

ight back?" Jalyn shrieked, her eyes wide with fev

heir sour sweat filling the narrow space as they backed

r heads out from behind glass partitions. They watched with cold

e heavy cardboard box high above my head, a

and three uncapped bottles of black ink rained down over Jal

ream, staggering backward under the weight before la

open. Neither of them had ever seen a low-ranking Omega assa

ered folders, swung my right arm in a wide arc, and drove

bell. Five bright red finger marks swelled

r voice cracking in hysteria as tears mix

king down at her while brushing dust o

atching employees down the hall, their

ut of their daze and raised thei

ger on me, and let's see if Alpha Johnston will take the fall for a publ

eir raised arms stiffened mid-air, and they exchanged

rd into the waiting elevator, and press

s frantic curses and leaving only the sound o

ck sedan through the wrought-iron gates of Jo

foyer-where I had spent six years waiting up for him

l of designer gowns and jewelry he had bought to parade me around at business dinner

r canister of high-grade Scent Neutralizer and h

ce of my crisp white-lily scent from the sheets and curtains.

to the entryway, pulled the heavy brass house key from

er, gouging a tiny white scr

ting winter wind. The freezing air cooled my burning che

stamped with the Apex crest, I droppe

r strapped to my left wrist buzzed rapidly

tom V8 engine blasted through the speaker,

rincess of the prestigious Webb Pack and