he forced her eyes to remain locked on the side of Collis's

care pulmonology and neurosurgery-a rare combination that made her worth every penny of the exorbitant fee the Duncan family was paying. "I will initiate a targeted diuretic therapy intravenously, combined wit

ling. His thumb hove

k eyebrow arched slightly. It was the closest thi

," he murmu

is tablet. He didn'

ht. It pressed down on Alivia's chest, making

on lights from the storefronts bled through the tinted windows, washin

wanted to melt into the metal. She needed to put as much physical

g pain. Her body remembered the trauma of his control,

led over a speed bump. The

sting on Collis's knee. It fluttered through the air and l

inctively l

her throat. The air v

oss the top of the private inv

OWERY – MISSING

ne shot straight into Alivi

She stared straight ahead at the back of the driver

ard to retrieve th

s broad shoulder brush

. It felt like a branding iron against her skin. A violent shudder ripped

rollable jerk backward, pressing he

is hand paused

different, but they hadn't shifted to outright hostility either. Instead, they were narrowed with a sharp, probing curiosity. It wa

r. Clay?" he asked. His voice was dangerousl

smoothed the fabric of her coat over her

erfectly flat. "I am simply dealing

s eyes tracked the slight pulse beating rapidly

erground parking garage of St. Jude Medical Center. The car roll

ard opened

crete garage and sucked in a massive breath of the stale, exhaust-filled a

polished steel elevator doors wa

nor

he was the real Alivia Clay's best friend. She was the only p

tep out of the car, her face br

r arms around Alivia in a tight

d you're here," E

's, Eleanor's voice dropped to a barely

k it down. Yo

er. She pulled back, forcing the corners of her mouth

ar door closing echoe

e instantly blocked the harsh overhead fluorescent l

action with eyes as cold as dead ash. There was a flicker of s

d her hand toward Collis, her face a

ank you for personally escorting Dr. Cla

rely stared at it for a second bef

sharp, dis

my grandfa

, unfazed. She turned an

open. The three of

in a steel box that was signifi

ascent. The hum of the cables was the only sound.

was crushing Alivia's windpipe. She stared at the changing fl