ded the concrete stairwell of the linen chute. Fresh blood soaked through th
t gave way, spilling her out into the freezing, torrential rain of the Manhattan
but the street was empty. She stumbled toward the avenue, her vision swimming with black spots, and threw her han
up to the towering glass facade of
ng crystal chandeliers of the lobby burned her eyes.
leather sofa was Marle
mpagne flute. She sneered, tossing a thick
e said, her voice drip
hallway leading to the master bedroom. She just
er path. The larger one shoved his hands a
r hard, her hip bone cr
, standing up and towering over
y protecting her empty womb from the impact. She plan
ants. A cruel smile twisted her lips. She stepped forward and
o violently. The stile
ped up. Her eyes
ered, her voice a raspy, terrifying sc
d in her glass. She waved her hand frantically at
rms. They dragged her backward an
ed shut behind her, the loc
know how long, but her feet carried her to the Port
into the freezing, wet sand
black, violent expanse of churning water. T
ed the silver locket she had managed to snatch from t
rm swirled around her, the freezing rain instan
water. Her baby was gone. Unnamed. Unh
. There was no air
et. It hit the wet s
lked f
knees. The cold was a physical blade slicing into her sk
ed over her shoulder
gs burned, screaming for oxygen. The current
limbs go limp, closing her eyes
the wate
rkness. Thick, muscular arms wrapped
yanked h
d in. She thrashed, her elbows striking
inning her arms to her sides. He kicked his l
oke the
ng and vomiting sea
man's face. She saw a deep, jagged
houlder like a ragdoll. He waded through the crashing s
hes. Her core temperature plummeted.
ainst the man's wet back, and
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