bby, her chest heaving. As the stainless steel doors slowly slid shut, cutting off the view of the pen

or. She stepped out and walked quickly a

s doors, the freezing night wind slammed into he

ectly manicured, tree-lined driveway toward the massive wrought-iron gates of the gated communi

from the gate when th

t. Ashlyn squeezed her eyes shut, throwing a hand

the guardhouse. They were holding the thick leather leashes of two snarli

, his voice devoid of any respect. "Show your night p

rminated my employment with Alex Robinson,"

a look. One of them let o

e, not even a fly leaves this sector,"

pike of fear through Ashlyn. She stumbled backward, her bare heel catching on the edge of th

hook the sky. A second la

n sheets. Within seconds, Ashlyn's thin

e last remnants of her body heat. The dizzy, sickening wave

ire City. She was trapped. In this city, controlled by capital an

c. If she stayed out here, she would p

she tasted copper. She turned around

luxurious lobby looking like a drowned rat. The expensive

yes, but knowing she belonged to the monste

d walls. Her hair was plastered to her skull, her lips were blue, and she was shiv

he stood in front of the heavy oak door

hen, she raised a numb, freezing f

as cracked open. She pushed

nd spilled bourbon we

egs were crossed at the ankles. A lit cigarette was pinched b

g the security feed. Watching her hit a brick wall

uddle of rainwater immediately formed around her fe

e exhaled a thick clo

ng?" he mocked, his voi

ng to every curve of her body, highlighti

hispered, her voice thick with a nasal, pa

, then up to her trembling, blue lips. Hi

ying, fragile body-a body that had just been drained of blood to save his sister-his thro

f-smoked cigarette directly into the pristine white wal

entryway table. He grabbed a heavy set of car

hivering form, pushing the

rdered, his voice