, the one in Damon Black

n between life and death. Damon stood inches away, his presence sharp enough

sh sig

those frantic, terrified wo

asn't he

usin

hammered

e call drop?

g me too closely. "Because you

oesn't e

his voice low, controlled. "Do not let

oat tig

. "What is Collin

that con

talking about my mother,"

shifted in his eyes, so

ney." He leaned closer, his fingers brushing the edge o

t in my body s

R

hi

A

to

nother voic

M

M

needs

myself t

arely audible. "Why choose me for th

re didn'

't so

choose a

Bu

ot a negoti

nfully. "It feels like

d. "Everyone h

sent a chil

less and if there's nothing to worry ab

expression, there for only a

one," he said qui

led. "I-I just

stepped

o c

controlled, unshakable like standing next

't have a

ice was

was

o s

inside me. "Why do I feel like I'm wal

locked w

use yo

eath c

t even de

n't pre

elling me

Y

is dan

Y

n't und

d n

t intend t

went numb ar

se, he took the contract and tu

." He tapped the line with one finger, his touch prec

aw

all I need

e pen again, sque

whispered, "d

ir wen

etely

s, Damon wasn't smirk

ed... un

son," he said. "And I don'

eath c

ngs t

hose words was im

dn't r

dn't t

mply w

nhale, exhale, steady

r M

her s

her

ly... I pressed th

ss the page like it was carv

eft the paper, someth

was

ldn't b

gently from my hand, cl

Go

is phone, press

gree

esita

nsfer

two

echoed lik

the phone. "Her mother's surgery begins at first ligh

sed, li

mista

he h

my heart still p

ppens now

yes locking onto mine with

id, "you move

dropped. "

Ye

stammered. "My

ndle your b

t my

e returning t

the floor vani

ed tha

aid, calm but firm. "And my wif

infully. "You're con

ct marriage," he replied. "You

stung m

ked the

wasn'

ven a

ward the door

eet refus

t of me wa

Mi

through the air

Co

ok on

n an

he doorway, my phon

sage. ‎Fro

fro

wasn't suppos

wrong with you

st results w

diagnosis

e cover

ood ra

stantly almost frantic:

ther's i

onnecte

ht so sharply I

he noticed I wasn't walk

ind me instinctively

ispered. "I

but sharp, assessing, as if he co

, terrifyin

ust s

tilted

from this moment on, you d

my heart pounding

murmured.

tor, one thought screamed louder than f

he one man connected t

didn't e

t I