d through the silent

in slid off his face, replaced by a fla

ly crushed his phone. The sound of Aurora's terrified scream hit

into the receiver. "Where a

pped it face-up on the desk. She buried her face in her hands and le

nt. He couldn't look weak in front of his boys. He snatched

at Aurora. He moved hi

hur's voice exploded through the phon

n her head, you are a de

n, speaking directly into the microphone. "Are you threatening m

ton, ending the call. He tossed the phone back onto Aurora's desk. It hit

l tone. A cold sweat soaked through his crisp w

his foot on the gas. The heavy engine roared. With his other

f the Carlisle Group headquarters, Julian w

stant, walked in. His face was completely bloodless. He ignored the fu

ear. "Arthur just called. Miss Aurora is being attacke

pen in his grip snapped. Dark blue ink exploded acr

d. The executive presenting the report st

gainst the floor. He didn't look at the ink on

. His voice was a flat, terrifying m

, feeling like a king. He looked down at Auro

pathetic driver was going t

attails. "She's delusional, Vince. We should just drag her

her eyes were dry and calculating. She was counting the s

walked over. She grabbed the heavy histo

et it slip from her fingers. It crashed t

oice dripping with fake in

ill. The sudden lack of crying made the hair on the

y outside. It sounded like a heavy

tsteps pounded again

icked so hard the hinges screamed. The wood s

and his chest heaved with ragged breaths. In his right hand, he grippe

dents in the room froze, the air leav

e. He saw the red words on the desk. He saw Aurora, s

's throat. He raised the bat and p

his?" Arth

to commit murder shattered his tough-guy act instantly. He

It was him!"

s coming up defensively. "Hey, m

ive strides. He grabbed Juston by the collar of his expe

slammed Juston back-first in

oed through the room. Several gi

t the chaos, the terror on the faces of her

d the corner of her mouth. The