ight o

black screen. The room felt colder now, the a

ther h

. She had heard the whispers-seen the way her father's m

t

en the truth wi

want to b

ho raised her-the man who had **prot

his hands told

"Where did you get that video?" Her voice wa

the desk, crossing his

not an

n't reach his eyes. He was watching

d to give him

tilting her chin up. "That I'll turn against my fat

pped forward, closing the space between t

s breath

down-she knew

ad already star

t was d

ay. "If my father is the monster you say

s jaw t

st time, he

etched between them b

ut killing," he said quietly. "

ia sh

from

t Adrian Valenti didn't

d to des

e wors

re she wanted

e of

e weight of Adrian's words

ust about killing. It's

lm, but there was no mistaki

have been

rif

fied-not of Adrian, but of the d

he was

ther deserved

n in her eyes because his smirk returned, slow an

her jaw. She coul

coolly, "is a man obs

s that make you? A woman obsessed w

stif

he did know her f

entire life unde

she saw his smile as he plunge

seen that side

had just ne

closer, forcing he

His voice was lower n

wanted t

im this w

words di

nd herself whisp

ashed in Adrian's

take you somewhere your fat

ach twisted, b

w if she was m

that there was no

irst

etween them, thick

rian's words lingered. "I'll take you some

at her to turn away.

he di

rian's cold, pierci

mirk fading into something unreadable.

sion neutral, but something about his wor

she needed h

in her life, she was making a c

t terri

hand through his dark hair. "

wanted to ask

part of her

he would se

d, there would

eples

the unfamiliar bed, s

luxurious, but it sti

cked doors or the gua

f the war rag

her was a man of honor. That everythi

t

had cr

, was the first cra

ted, it woul

stration burning in her chest

to remember

eLuca, daughter o

reak. She di

n crept through the windows, one te

e she believed

ride was

ackseat, staring out the tinted wi

ea where he w

y arrived, she would never see

k, but his presenc

the car

quickened as s

he truth," Ad

doors u

rld change