nd cut through the darkness of the ha

d, I actually con

minutes ago, but the echo of hi

had never heard from the Consig

ing straight into a trap

d it a "ne

rt-a gladiatorial trial design

the crown despite the chaotic me

ng into a sl

r

wn at his c

ax

ame. Just the three sharp letters tha

" a voice drifted from the

n't f

ned s

frame of the library, idly twirling a

ooked

ping into the dim pool of light.

aid, my voice dead flat. "My father says the

sm

a smile

hing a bird collide with a win

w," sh

y lungs in a r

me," she said, examining the fla

he was letting a woman run his house. I

until the plastic casing groaned under the pressure

e corrected, her eyes fla

willing to burn everything down for

ading my personal space wit

na. You want him safe. I want him mine.

in with pain," I whispe

ttle, ugly sound that scraped

ded at

oked

ered over th

that the Rossis had brought in me

im, the part that used to be

ed the

ang

ic

d me, her expre

ring, the c

d out. "Listen t

li

ne wen

hun

een, the call durat

me. He saw I

I wasn't wort

soft, satisfied hum

inside m

't a lo

a tension wire finally givi

ife evaporated. Th

ft was a cold,

said, lowering t

ed pas

y father. I didn'

room and cl

er, the lives

ed, accessible only

of my bed, watch

was held in an und

crete. The lighting was h

d in the

ess shirt was rolled up to the elbows, re

oked

th

ssis sent t

m. Each hold

't have

as brutal.

shed across Jax's chest, turning

sick. I should ha

s watching a strange

ying grace-dodging, st

like a man

had something to prove to

not

drop of blood he spilled, wa

aying, *Look what I

od panting over the groaning bodies, blood drippin

es wer

az

to the lens, as if he

mouth *I

hed *Fo

off the

cry. I di

llows and listened to the

died in that w

walked out wa

s don't ha