the main restroom door, the thick oa

the man yanked open the maintenance panel bene

he high ventilation window shattered into a thousand piece

side Gabrielle rebound twice as hard. Whimpering soft

larbone and the curve of her chest. Just below her left

ion of a second. Dropping the pipe, he grabb

window right now," he growled through cle

de her, she sought out the cool skin of the man holding her. She lea

aught her by the shoulders and pushed her b

his voice low and h

inges. Bertram stormed in, flanke

pped onto the marble counter, and vaulted up o

ram screamed, his face purple with rage

essors came up at once, aimin

hot behind him. The bullet obliterated the fire sprinkler on the ceil

y into the walls. Using the cover, the man held Gabrielle tigh

lle awake. A scream rose in her throat,

ley behind the hotel. He tucked her head against his chest and rolled

auled her up by the wrist and dragged her in

arefoot, Gabrielle ran across puddles and broken

lapsing beside a rusted dumpster as rain

mbling heiress huddled in the mud, a

. Headlights sliced through the dark as s

up into his arms despite her startled gasp

rried her down the concrete steps, and threw the heavy iron bolt. Gr

off the damp walls. Gabrielle's fingers stayed twisted

am hit its final, devastating peak. She curled into a ball o

silver lighter. The tiny yellow flame lit

aid, his voice echoing hollowly in the b

. Guided by the last shred of her instinct, she re

ering every last piece of her pride