doors slid open direc

ied her out of the elevator and into t

kyline of Manhattan, but the beauty was dead to Cla

dropped her onto the center of a massiv

sinking into the dark silk sheets. S

pinned her down, his hands planted on either side of her head.

an'," Aurthur said, his voice a deadly w

m his pocket. He tapped

hest rising and falling in

voicemail. Jaren was sti

inst Clare's lips. The cold s

me," Aurthur ordered. "

. This was him forcing her to burn her own

shook her head, tears spilling

er jaw. He squeezed, not enough to bruise, but

"I can call him myself. I c

nball. Bile rose in her throat. She cou

The drug was making h

ne. Her voice shook, but the words

anger at Jaren pierced through her fear

nd someone bet

rovocation. A self-

and ended the call. He tossed the device acros

. The satisfaction in his

ead, his lips brushing against her te

him-it all crashed down on her at once. Clare stopped pus

d off automatically. The city

heat, pain, and surrender. The boundaries

d through the glass windows, hit

unding headache. Her

the unfamiliar

er. The harsh lines of his face were smoothed ou

into her brain li

The forced voicemai

fell away, exposing the dark bruise

ped. She clamped a hand ov

uncle. She had slept with

through her chest. Her life was completely destroyed

d to g

most collapsed onto the hardwood floor. She held her breath, mov