windpipe was immed

ron, his thumb pressing against her larynx with calculat

Burris," Brandon growled. His face was inches from hers, h

ds. She didn't struggle. Th

her to his grip. She stared directly into his

ezing past the blockage in her throat. "Becau

mb stopped pressing down. The intent in h

e a low rumble. "Hansford is too

the oil painting in his study. I know the cipher logic he uses for t

r a long, agonizing seco

oughed, rubbing the red marks already forming on her skin.

elchair, but the threat of violence still hung ar

ith tears of physical pain, bu

she said. "Just a

touched the corner of his mouth. It wasn't

She took a step toward him, holding out her hands. "Chec

y with professional, invasive efficiency. He checked her waist, the li

" he mu

orboard creaked

both

r eyes darting to the door. "He's wa

he cold agent vanished, replace

e the Senator a

the side table. It crashed to the floor, shatterin

oming, filled with a fabricated rage that so

aned in, a twisted smile of relief c

his chair, watching Gina with an arched

a sharp, high-pitched cry. "P

from the desk and threw i

" Brando

miliation she had felt in her past life, every scream she ha

o..." sh

er voice to a whisper. "The ledger is the key to the Sterling investi

t of his jacket and pulled out a small, b

. "Direct line to me. If you fail, G

e device and tucked it into

on st

six feet tall, broad-shouldered, powerful. The wheelchair wa

delicate silk of her robe. With

ii

was sharp

is thumb over her cheek. Hi

e close to hers. "From this mome

ten minutes, letting the silence stretch, lett

et, fixed his cuffs, and w

pene

randon didn't even look at him. He rolled

llway, knowing Hansford was listening around the

floor amidst the shattered lamp and torn silk. S

as pl