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It was all co he wanted

Natalie’s stomach clenched as she stared into the hand iven her Her left eye ollen almost shut, and the side of h

er face was a mass of blue and purple bruises On the second day after Slade’s beating, she looked like a character from a horror movie

“I guess I should be thankful it wasn’t worse,” she said, laying the mirror facedown on the hospital bed

“Yes, you should” The ested she’d seen it all, put the htstand drawer “At least he didn’t crush your nose or break your jaw You should see some of the women who’ve come in here”

“I never expected to be one of the to appear calmer than she felt

“Nobody does, dear Not the first time, at least Your pretty face will look fine in a couple of weeks But the doctor’s still concerned about that concussion She wants to keep you for another day or two, or at least until the dizziness goes away”

Natalie sighed, reached for the chilled gel pack, and laid it against her face She had soto have to lie here doing nothing But Tori, who’d been a godsend, securing her house and car and s outside, had insisted that for now, the hospital was the safest place for her With Slade out on bail, there was no guarantee that any restraining order would keep hiain

For that very reason, she’d decided not to stay with Tori and Erin She didn’t want Slade co anywhere near her friends If she went back hoe while she healed

Slade’s guns were still in her house, locked in his gun safe The locksed the coot back to the house, she would take one out of the safe, load it, and keep it close for protection She wasn’t sure she could pull the trigger, but at least she could use the gun as a threat

The nurse had gone Alone, Natalie turned onto her side and closed her eyes Tearssalt trails down her cheeks She kne to be strong, and she would be But right now she only felt ravaged, drained, and destroyed

At the click of a boot heel on the floor, her heart lurched Her eyes shot open For the first split second she feared it ht be Slade, but as her head came around, she saw that it was Beau He stood fra as if he’d just been kicked

As his eyes took her in, a slow anger transformed his face When he spoke, his voice was like cold steel “How long did you think you could keep ?”

“Who told you?” Natalie forced herself not to flinch She kneful she looked, but she wouldn’t play the victim

Not with Beau