roline? I took

sweet laugh into a manic cackle. The sound wrapped aroun

. The pain of it was physical, a white-hot blade slici

uminating a tall, broad-shouldered silhouette. He was slamming his fists a

med into Annalise's back, like falling f

s eyes sn

eat plastered her silk pajamas to her skin, dripping down her spine. Her chest

car. There was n

crystal chandelier, the soft cream wallpaper with the del

the fabric. No blood. No shattered ribs. Just the

crashed open, bangi

reached back to shield her, while the other pressed firmly against the grip of his holstered weapon, his sharp, alert eyes sweeping the room in a practiced arc.

as calm, but the concern was evident in the way

e had seen him, he was being escorted off the property by security, his face bruised, his

fingers brushed against his jaw. The s

in surprise. He didn't step back, but h

ht to speak. She turned her head, her gaze l

welry box. The bold red numbers

ber

n a rush. That was the d

e bed. Her bare feet slapped against the co

yes bright, lacking the hollow, dead look she had seen in her final mome

They kille

ise's hands curled into fists, her nails biting into her palm

s hand outstretched. "Annalise,

racks. He had never seen that look on the sweet, naive heiress befo

r fists, taking a deep breath that filled her lungs with the scent of

er voice left no room for argument. He nodded once and

d out below, illuminated by the soft glow of the landscape lighting. Huge

e rose garden like he owned the

as there, a reflex from the crash, but it was insta

pushed past the racks of pastel dresses, the soft pinks and bab

ut never had the courage to wear. It was a deep, blood-red silk, form-fitting

ger and laid it on the be