cer'

w. "You are my wife. And I'm goi

the fear. Most people would have broken by now. Most people would have collapsed into compli

this madness

ience left.

allenge was clear. "You said you were going to

h-the humiliating, infuriating t

I barely knew her face. I had never slept in this room with her. Never touched her. Never fuck

onation with a wedding ring. I'd told mys

anything, and the fact that she was forcing me to confro

closer. "For me to confess? For me to br

surged ho

locked around her waist, and I kissed her like I was trying to punish her mouth for every lie that had come out of it. V

aged it

ide, shoved at my chest, a

of it slid

ing, eyes blaz

wanted to slam her head into the wall until the defiance left her eyes.

ack of my wrist, slow, con

iatric hospital I mentioned

hit Vincent's number wit

mediately. B

as drained

Both hands reached for my pant leg like she had no pride left. "Please don't do this. I'l

d freely now. Her voice was raw fro

to live with yourself knowing you stopped me

d not

sound. "You don't have a heart. You're the kind of man who s

ds land

spec

hould have stayed buried. And now my wife-who knew nothing about that accident-w

ms, and hauled her to her feet in on

running someone over. What th

head, panic flaring in her eyes. "It was ju

idn't

uldn't

eing pa

r arms where my fingers had dug in, and I wat

my hair and exhaled

"Take me to this

hand around her wrist and dragged her toward the

e hallway exactly w

nything

going to see how far my w

ately, already speak

head and l

been needling me since the moment I walked into the room. I didn't know Ruby well-hell, I barely knew h

ist and pulled her down the s

aiting, doors open. Vince

," I to

looke

ring hard enough that he

earest guard. "Bri

ed. When the guard returned she shoved her feet into the s

ly audible, throat

me to my mother... or t

d not

limbe

d into the back beside her and shut the door

fingers was already rising on her skin. I felt nothing about it. She

led away fr

iet, shaking voice. After that she kept glancing at me from the corner of her eye

the driver began to slow, she leaned forward like she couldn't stand another second i

p to something. I slid my hand inside my jacket and rested my fingers

stopped she lunged

ck

rd me, eyes desp

ow. "Giving m

"I don't know if she's alr

ugh the rearview mirror.

nd. "There's no need for that. It's just

I cut in. "This could b

second the defiance flare

estyle," she snapped, "you wouldn't

ee death in my eyes. Letting her understa

her face going pale, her hands

ry-I did

was soft. Dange

wed and we

on my window and ga

unlocked

ing. Vincent stepped in front of her, blocking her path, and she

eed to go inside. I need

t didn

ng at me with wild eye

ar slowly, adjusting m

her eyes was a