scale restaurant. The night air was chilly,

bed her arm and pulled her t

ls dug into Gianna's skin. "This is a

Her stomach churned with u

already sitting there. He was heavy-set, with thinnin

ki," Dani said, her voice d

lingered on her chest. Gianna felt a w

bench, keeping as much dista

Gus kept leaning into her space. He placed

d away. She shot a de

threatening shake of her head. The message

shed her

stroom," Gianna said.

kly out of the booth. She ne

hallway near the kitchens. Dani grab

ni snarled. "You go back out

w. She walked back to

s moved slightly to the left. The co

ass and brought it to her lips, pretending to take a lo

He was smiling, showin

wn. The tiny drop she s

unnatural heat bloomed in her stomach and rushed

her. His arm wrappe

th hot against her neck. "Let me take you

rms felt like they were filled with lead

her to her feet. He pres

second. Gianna reached out, her fingers closing a

h all the streng

side of Gus's head. He let out a lo

Her legs wobbled like jelly. She hit the wall of the hall

the alley. The cold air hit her face, but th

crashed directly into

fall backward. Two large, strong hands grippe

swimming, but she saw sharp ja

Algot V

tem now. It was not just a se

he lapels of his expensive suit coat and clung t

id chemical scent clung to her-a smell he associated with the dirty tr

ked. His voice was a low rumble

e could not form any other w

out of the shadows. It was

ommotion inside,"

Gianna up into his arms. He carried her down the

imbed in beside her. The door shut, s

r seat, kicking her shoes off. She crawled to

g over his lap a

r wrists. His gr

ng," Algot

down and pressed her hot fa

skin touched hi

s bones. It was the genetic curse of the Vaughn family. But right

by a profound,

im, crying out softly. Th

d face. He felt the absence of

His hand slid down her waist, mo

is long, cool fingers fou

ed tight, as he moved his fingers with precise, rhyt

g violently before collapsing aga

ly, her head resting h

looked down at the woman sleeping in his arm