ILA

ke, the final spark t

undred-dollar bills from my wallet

the motion, wanting it to b

ice cold. "Now take your money a

aw clench, a storm gather

Good. That's

o leave. I didn't want to see

take the money, or

efore a hand clamped dow

to face his

t his grip was like a bra

y a word. He

lost my balance,

r. I landed in a soli

s chair, pulling me with hi

p erupted in a chorus

deep, mortifying shade of red.

it was so unbel

like a landed fish. "Le

und my waist like a band of

the back of my head, f

feel his warm breath, smell that colo

ngerous, gravelly murmur right next to

"I think I need to make you

o silence. My body went rigi

my lips, his eyes tu

pounding like a drum. What.

ad. The distance between

the heat fr

my eyes shu

I was expecti

centimeter from mine. Our hot breaths

ration of his power,

of shame, fear, and rage, trapp

y ear, leaving no room for argument. "Now, w