nt, heavy and immovable. She stared at Clifton, who stood just

lass down onto the marble counter with enough force to send a crack spider-webbing u

. Terrified, she forced her stiff, trembling legs to move, dragging her feet across the thick carpet

king taking his throne. He crossed his long legs and leaned back, his dark eyes dragging o

her feet. "Take off that ridiculous hoodie," he com

ion warred in her eyes-a flash of fire against the terror. Her hand

st her skin. "This is the black market, sweetheart. How

ly flooded her eyes, blurring his cold, handsome face into a watery smear

od there in a thin, worn tank top that did nothing to hide her trembling. Goo

A sharp, unexpected flash of regret lanced through his chest, hot and unwelcome. He buried it instantly, cru

ng shadow over her that stole the air from her lungs. He was so close she could sm

strong fingers wrapping around her nape with unyielding pressure. He pul

overing right next to her ear,

le. "They use a long, hollow needle. They shove it straight through your vaginal wall

or, going gray as ash. Her stomach violently rejected

ia. The pain will tear you apart from the inside. You will likely go into shock on the table before

ls. The bloodstained tables. He told her about girls who had their entire uteruses rip

the force of a sledgehammer. Her psychological defenses-a

with all her remaining strength, pushing him back a step. "Shut up!" she sc

down at her, his eyes unreadable. "Still want

cally, tears streaming down her cheeks in hot rivers. "No," she ch

woman fleeing a burning building. She grabbed the heav

light blinked steadily on the elec

. Her fingernails scrabbled against the metal plate, making a desperate, anim

carpet. He watched her claw at the door like a dying animal tra

almost conversational. "You don't get to leave just becaus

her back, until she hit the floor in a crumpled heap. She pulled her knees to her chest, buri

the street to die. She cried out of pure, paralyzing fear

heart, grinding it to pulp. He had only wanted to scare her away from the black market, to terrify her into self-pres

self to her level. He reached his hand out, he

n mid-air, hovering