te hospital slammed open. Javier stepped out, hi

ace was grim. He held a thick stack of fr

floor with heavy, aggressive thuds. The sound e

room. When she heard the footsteps, she ju

a single word. He snatched the stack of papers from C

of the folder, flutterin

voice was a low, terrifying whisper

"She-she's a picky eater! It was jus

f the exact dates and amounts of three designer h

d onto the floor, tears streaming dow

Call the lawyers," he ordered Cal

dragged her down the hallway, her shoes scraping

k a deep breath, forcing the violent rage o

und was the steady, rhythmic

gen mask covered her face. She looked incredibly small, her skin a transl

dropped to his sides, his fingers curling int

luttered. She slow

ing over her. Her pupils dilated, a

en mask and yanked it down. The sudden movement pulled the IV line

clamped down on her shoulder, pinning her fla

His voice was harsh, but a fain

t and grabbed the bottom edge of his suit jacket. S

ears spilled over her bottom lashes, running d

voice weak and broken. "Do

r fist. It was the only thin

d. "I'll sleep in the basement. J

den, inexplicable tightness seizing his chest as if the oxygen had been completely sucked out of the roo

her cold, stiff fin

of physical distance between them. He loo