His Beautiful Ruin

cious, she forgot how to breathe. Ev

nger brother onto a stretcher. Someone calling for a trauma

happ

was he unc

rgic to any

ered only

.. Too much of it

ce already swelling, and his breathing came in shallow, uneven bursts as the

er arm before she could follow.

lly, though her legs fe

Just like that, Noah w

high on the wall played a morning news program no one seemed to be watching, whi

lastic chairs. Only then did she notice

's b

omach

okay...

es later, a doctor

s guar

hot to

other is

d enough to make

d multiple soft tissue injuries. Fortunately, there's

osed h

k Go

ep him overnight

. Thank yo

e before walking away, leaving relief

he first problem. The second

s counter offered her a polite smile. "We

clutching the strap o

or a moment before turni

cover part of today's

flick

two thousand, eight hund

ppeared afte

the printed esti

ing," the receptionist explained gently. "If additiona

s tightened ar

d her ban

balance:

allowe

us week. The money she'd been saving for rent,

cent s

before he's transferred to a priv

lass toward the corridor w

ying about exams, not whether his sister

forced herself to breathe. "C

cour

d leaned against the nearest wall, gri

ad to b

hing, take more freelance work, wo

cause whatever it took, she wasn't goin

presidential suite overlooked the city through floor-to-ceiling win

le beside two crystal glasses, while the fai

Lucien's white dress shirt over her shoulders.

lack shirt without looking up. "I

tly. Bitter one

bedside table. The scree

an H

swered im

t is

line, calm and professional. "There's

aused over his

tely an hour ago. Multiple attackers. Emergency ser

on remained unrea

ief pause. "Sh

opped completely

e of the attackers shoved her into a

ttled over

ir

lea

. Vanessa watched him

sin

ing lik

ll ca

alking toward th

r closed quie

ence room on the executive floor. Declan was waiting fo

footage began

t. Four men followed. The confrontation last

d to care he

ntered the f

tation. She threw herself betwee

he concrete railing. She dropped to one knee, but she wa

aused th

seconds later. Local police responded

image of Inara kneeling beside her unconscious brother, o

"They're both at

. A preliminary hospital re

le is s

ked away. "What ab

ested an emer

w m

three thousa

He already knew

he Mercer F

ncy assista

ce. "Approve the

'll have the hospital transf

N

ction wa

id. "The best trauma speci

ated before

he bil

tion covers

asks why she

lified under the Emerge

y inves

kno

the Foundation belon

ed the sleeve

won

d an eyebrow

ned to the frozen i

esn't look at p

said

ne into his pocket and

watc

hospi

used at t

er