eps echoed in the hallway, moving further away. If he lef

in her bruised knees. She scrambled up fr

hit the thick wool runner in the hallway

s hand to press the down button. He heard the frantic

let her ankle twist. She let out a sharp gasp and threw h

epped forward and shot his arms out, catchin

y grabbed the lapels of his cashmere coat. She buried her

ic, they hooked onto a thick met

kest link-a slightly worn connector ring halfway down the solid gold chain attached

t watch was the symbol of the Mayer family's p

her off his body. His grip was so brut

ompletely limp. She slumped against him like a dead w

shook he

p," he

t move. Only her warm breat

evator gears ground together. Someone was com

aked girlfriend in a hotel corridor. He cursed under his bre

His heavy footsteps pounded against th

the entryway, past the living room, and straight into the m

ess. She bit the inside of her cheek

ed down at her for several seconds.

thick down comforter over her, burying

to leave. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the

he living room, and slammed the front d

ne's rigid muscles collapsed. She

opened her

lay in her palm. The jagged metal edge

ld, desperate smile stretched acro

p, a chaotic noise eru

hen, a man's

! Open t

on. Her ex

pitched and fake. "Arron, pleas

s against the heavy wood. "Co

n. The panic in her eyes vanished, replaced by a chil