eart. You're going to

's ears. The nurse was adjusting the dial on the PCA pump, incr

mbling legs. "No right at all. I don't care who his boss is. You are a patient, not a corporat

medication was beginning to take the edge off, turning the sharp, biting agony into

. She thought she had d

was

with enough force to slam against the wall. The sharp crack

h it the scent of expensive wool, freezing temperatures, and

stood in t

s face was striking-sharp cheekbones, a strong jaw, dark hair swept back from a high forehead. But his eyes were what held her captive. Th

r face flushed with anger. "You cannot b

t o

t, but it carried the absolute authority of a man who owned

g to stand between him and the bed. "

st her ribs, but she didn't back down. Instead, she immediately turned and slammed her palm on the emergency call button on the wall. "S

she said, but her voice

r and approaching the bed. "But until th

rd she was sure he could see it through her thin hospital gown. This was the man from the void. This was her husband. The

own, his hands gripping the metal rails of the bed, his face inches

g in short, shallow gasps. She didn't know this man. She didn't know what he was talking ab

rew it onto the bed, the heavy paper landing heavily on her stomach. The

njured in Aspen "Accident"; Vaughan Steadfast by His Side. Below the headline was a photograph. Holt, his face etched with concer

wrecker," Holt snarled, his gray eyes burning into hers. "They'

the man looming over her. She felt nothing. No jealousy

ouldn't. The silence seem

uch is it going to take for you to end this circu

above her collarbone, his grip like a vise. He yanked her upward, trying to

nstantaneous a

hite, then black at the edges. A scream tore from her throat, raw and guttural, but she couldn't hear it over

Stop! You're

se launched herself at Holt, grabbing hi

his face twisted in a mask of furious disbelief.

l of his coat sleeve. Tears streamed down her face, her vision swimming with black spots.

rp, insistent ringing

onto the mattress, a broken ragdoll. She lay there, gasp

rmation was terrifying. The rage, the violence, the madness-it all evaporated, r

d with Diandra. "No, no, don't worry. I'm handling it. I'll be there as soon as I ca

wn at Diandra, who was still trembling uncontrollably, her face ashen, her

Chelsi," he said, his voice flat. "Until you

at him. He turned and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall, l

ked at Diandra's ashen face, at the sweat soaking her hospi

the intercom on the wall. "Get Dr. Finch i

merciful void. The last thing she heard was the frantic beeping of the heart

had married