enly fell to

ndon her savior. With determination, she hois

she placed him ge

his eyes, a well-defined jaw, and lips that spoke of

ad been shot, using his flee

hing in my power to help y

ieve a first-aid ki

but Rena steeled her nerves as she began to

tment, she had never before deal

calpel and tweezers and set about remov

ontorted in pain, his lips part

e not alone." She s

, he simply needed rest

home filled with her grandmother's e

death will not be overlooke

other's old bed, seeking sol

invaded by the haunting images

ed in, the man on the sofa began

y sat up, his chest sending jolts of pain through him at t

aken care

had been escaping his pursuers, had leapt fro

eached him, promptin

ides from one end to the other, and then he n

ns stirred in his

same woman who had once rejec

twist o

utterly enchanted by Rena's luminous allure

ved then and there that

ather, he had talked him into a

Alexander had felt compelled to accept when he

Rena had proclaimed before all that she would sooner wed a

im for being rejected by a girl

iscord, he had clawed his way above his five si

is brothers and sisters bore grudges,

ad led him right t

at the sight of him beside her bed. She

ardonic smile, his expression otherw