Chapter 4  My head began to throb, my vision blurring.  Through the haze, I caught fragments of voices: “Why waste time talking? One injection and it’s done. She’s the ‘star…

His words sent an electric shock through my body.  “I’m not going. I don’t want anything.”  Hearing my refusal, his face instantly darkened: “You’re going whether you want to or…

Chapter 2  I got home very late to find Nathan waiting on the couch.  When our eyes met, something was different.  Gone was his usual coldness–instead, there was an unmistakable…

Chapter 1  My husband Nathan Carter hasn’t touched me once in five years of marriage.  If my skin accidentally brushed against his, I’d be punished by soaking in disinfectant for…

Chapter 11  Chapter 11  After that day, the professor’s wife whom Ashley had been involved with came to the university and presented evidence in front of the entire student body. …

Chapter 5  Zachary’s hand clenched around Sophie’s fingers all of a sudden.  She winced and instinctively tried to pull away.  He didn’t even look at her.  Instead, he let go…

Chapter 4  I made a full dinner spread to say goodbye to the guys from base.  Mostly Zachary’s crew–his squad commanders and a few officers.  As I carried out the…

Chapter 3  I shot up, snatched it from his hand.  “He gave it to me. Before he died.”  Zachary looked stunned, eyes flicking over the mess on the ground.  “You’re…

Chapter 2  The next morning, I pulled myself together and headed back to base.  “Doc, I’m heading back to D.C. soon.”  “I’ll be counting on you to handle the rest…

Chapter 1  Three days after my father’s funeral, Zachary still hadn’t shown up.  “Grandpa Theo,” Isaid quietly, “I’ve made up my mind.”  “I’m going back to D.C. to take over…