ic and iron was the first thi

bedroom came into focus, the afternoon light filtered through sheer grey curtains. Her

er like a p

ght hand flying down

the faint, steady warmth beneath her skin. The tearing pain h

ooden door

signer high heels echo

an oversized white linen dress shirt that Clara recognized instantly-it

e, but her lips were painte

e bed, looking down at Clara

d, swirling the wine in her

s left her muscles feeling like lead. She collapsed back

t o

e bed, pressing the ice-cold base of the

ing her head away fr

, her voice dropping into a vicious hiss. "Dominic only kept you in his bed because your b

ped the white duvet,

ontinued, watching Clara's face with sick satisfaction. "He stood right there and orde

a's chest, tearing open wounds th

inside Cla

d body, Clara ripped her right arm forward. Her hand st

t the hardwood floor. Dark red wine splattered across the

ing backward as wine

ntly, replaced by a contorted sneer of pure fury. She raise

going o

ative voice cracked acro

d in a fracti

lently into her own cheek, dragging them down to create three bright red welts. She threw

he room, his jacket o

Vivian weeping among the shards, clutching her bleeding

, lifting Vivia

into his neck, her body shaking with theatrical tremors. "I brought her some water... but

turned to absolute ice as

ed the room in two strides. He reached down and yanked Clara upright by

e torn vein, drippin

mind?" Dominic roared, his fin

m the pain, but

agonizing years. The desperation, the fear, the pleading-all of it ha

ce eerily steady. "She did it to he

plicable knot of irritation and unease tightened in his

n

rom a three-year coma! You at

m, and for the fir

mile that carried more contempt

ze away from his. "I am not the victim. I am ju

's hand

he quickly smothered the feeling under a surge of de

an whimpered from the chair, clutching her

om the bed, scooping V

ncing back at Clara with c

the guards in the hall. "No food. No water. Not

t. The deadbolt clicked into p

ing from the back of her hand onto the white sheets. Sh

the window, watching the grey clou

e last remnant of her h

her baby. And when the time came, she was going to ta