ag onto the floor. It hit th

els slipping slightly on the polished floor. She hit the heavy double doors le

but she ignored it. Her eyes locked

small knees were dug into Ethan's chest. His face was twisted into a mask of absolute, terri

o!" Elaine

wrapping her arms tightly around his small torso. She pulled backward with all her s

hrieked, kicking his

se onto his expensive uniform. He pointe

ng down his face. "I just said he doesn't hav

tirely by raw, defensive instinct. He thrashed violently in Elaine's arms, trying to break her grip to

ining her pastel skirt. She shifted her weight, kneeling

des of his flushed, angry face, forci

voice dropping into a soft, steady, and so

rapidly. His small han

gerating her own slow, deep inhalations.

y vanished, replaced instantly by a well of unshed tears. His lower lip trembled. He collapsed forward, burying his s

ly scooped up the bruised and crying Ethan, pressing an ice

then stood up, picking up the surprisingly light boy. She carried the withdrawn, sil

ncipal's closed door. She pulled a tissue from her pocket and gently wiped a smudge of dirt and Et

t desk. The secretary was typing furiously

d?" Elaine asked, keeping her voice

ting nervously toward the glass entrance doors. She leane

iss Foster, you need to be careful. His father is a very

st the marble floor. She mentally prepared a strict, professional speech. Powerfu

ection. She adjusted the collar of her cardigan, pulling it up slightly to ensure it comp

c chime echoed t

s at the far end of

s slow, deliberate, and carried an immense weight. The low chatter of the re

fessional, reassuring smile

tly. Her facial muscle

alked down the hall

harcoal suit that hugged his broad shoulders perfectly. A platinum watch gleamed on his wrist. He

with absolute indifference. Then, they locked

e hallway and grabbed the expensive fabric of Damian

om her lungs. The realization hit her physical body like

t with. The man she had just signed a ruth

risingly gentle hand on the boy's head, patting his ha

ht on the edge of the carpet. Panic gripped her

l rushed out, sweating profusely, his face flushed

so quickly," the principal stammered

d the principal. He didn

em. He stopped mere inches from her. The familiar, intoxicating scent of his expensive cedarwood col

ard her. It was a formal, polite gesture of greetin

smoothly, his deep voice dripping with a lethal, m

gainst her ribs like a trapped bird. She realized, with a sickening drop in her stomach,

she would look entirely unp

touching the fire she had jus