rway, his tall frame blockin

ay eyes were fixed on the empty space between them-the space Graci

sgust had hit him like an invisible

he hallway, looking straight

ve a cab waiting downstairs, Mr

ugh to narrow the doorway even further. "Do you think Hamilton Mano

hin with habitu

mach from the flight. Pour

e. Anabella drifted over, sliding her slender hand naturally onto Ch

my jet lag is unbearable," Anabella purred, le

you pour me a small bowl? You wouldn't min

abella's hand resting po

would have made her heart ache

n marriage had burned away every lingering d

ie said, her voic

e scent of expensive Cuban cigars and Anabella's heavy vanilla pe

the heavy carrier onto the ma

g his long legs. His piercing eyes never left her face,

a white porcelain bowl from the side compart

white steam billowed into

erature by the vacuum seal, poured into the

leaning over the table

head toward Chas. "You know, Chas, when you were sick back in high

the air, smoot

the one who had stayed up all night boiling that exact tea, leaving it outside Chas's

Using both hands, she picked up the small sa

It is extr

Anabella's manicured hand d

rim of the hot porcelain, she did not take it. Instead,

nched the tender skin on the inside of her own

ing liquid flipped vio

l broth splashed directly across Gra

eve in a fraction of a second. The extreme thermal shock tore through the fabric and clung

gh

ard against the sharp edge of the marble table, her entire right arm trembli

ing, Anabella threw herself backward ont

shed fingertips, writhing as

s, help me! It

e you lost your dam

enraged predator, his leather sole

oup spreading across the rug. Without a second of hesitation, he lunged forw

ainst his chest, sobbing uncontrollably w

y let go and pushed it at me... Chas, is my hand going t

on her ruined right wrist. The agony felt like thousands of white-hot needles tearing

, ragged gasps, yet her amber

. The security cameras in this pri

uncontrollable fury. The veins on the back of his nec

and in London! You know how delicate her fingers are! Ho

ed down at

stering skin. Large, pale yellow blisters were rising rapidly beneath the shredd

d raw from holding back the scre

k down. Look at who

s f

ively flicked toward her hangi

he boiling broth. A sharp, violent spasm clenched the pit of hi

ch, her arms wrapping desperately around his neck, dragging his attentio

tears instantly shattere

fully averted his eyes from Gracie's bloody arm. He could not admi

r petty jealousy!" Chas snapped, his v

carrying Anabella toward the do

u did! You are not permitted to take a single

A

ors of the VIP lounge slamme

ed white shards, pooling brown liquid, and

in her knees and sank d

drag her consciousness into darkness. Her slender body shoo

her eyes. Not a single w

mouth slowly, chillingly c

the final echo of gratitude she had held for the Hamilto

njured left hand to reach down. With agonizing care, she beg

ng weeping, bloody flesh to the air. Her vision bl

the edge of the stone table,

ling left fingers. The screen illuminated her pale,

3 Hours, 4

are app and summoned a private car t

thout looking back at the empty, luxurious room, she pushed throu