ica'

home wa

t. No, this was thick and suffocating, like the car itself had inhaled

at icy calmness he wore on his face. He sat across from me in the back of the limousine, one leg cross

t even l

tremble in his fingers when he brought the glass to his lips. Most people wouldn't catch it but I

apologize, I d

kless, angry part was proud of what I'd don

ush by like we were trying to outrun the consequences. But I knew

the silence. His voi

rassed me,

n't r

glass about to shatter. "In front of people who matter. Investors,

ey're human. The

re not supposed to be worse, Jessica. You're sup

pped harder than if

st some servant he could

k to keep from saying something I'd regret

-in bar like he was afraid of waking a sleeping beast. "

I kept my eyes on the

rt. "So you have met her. She's a nobody

She didn't feel like no one. You said her name

bout the consequences. "W

r a second. A pause barely

ear anyone

e clinked in the glass, the only sound

said calmly, "we'll d

orate and he d

tched out like a rope tig

we pulled into the driveway, the front doors opened automatically. The

invisible here but tonight,

n't wait for me and I followed

arm but I didn't have

stairs, his face unreadable. "Go to

e said it made it

e a prisoner walking toward her cell. When I got inside, I

Still, it made me fe

the bed. Then stood again. My skin felt

had I

as too low and I couldn'

ond tried opening the

heart stutter

e he walked away and came bac

calm and neutral. He closed the door behind him and le

he looked and I hat

ou were loyal, educated, obedient, b

at him,

amily or had a bad character. Y

ly worked. "So

rse. You think I did this o

Then what do you

lked toward me slowly. "Every

mean

e th

ont of me, too c

my ear, "I won't just ruin your name. I'll ruin everything you've ever touched. Your family liv

my eyes, but I b

I said quietly. "That's w

faltered. Jus

e. Wild. You're right, I can't contr

that mean?"

e door, "stay away from her or you won't jus

paused, then looke

use her against me. S

n he wa

e click of the lock. My body finally let go of

and Sonya wouldn't be able to rescue me, I j