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I pull the robe closed and step back. “Good that you don't wear a lot of strapless gowns. This is going to leave a scar." Anger is really gurgling now. This guy is messing with my life. I could have died!I killed a woman.

"You did well," Temperance says, his voice low.

I open my mouth and close it again, clenching my jaw. "I don’t want to do this anymore," I grind out.

He raises one eyebrow at me. "That's not an option."

"Yes, it is. I just won't answer your calls," I'm making this up as I go along. "And I won’t do what you ask. Seems pretty simple to me."

"That's not how it works."

"Really? Because I'm not interested in dying, or getting any more scars." I lower my voice. “Or killing anyone else.”

"I'll have a doctor—a plastic surgeon—come over and look at that." Temperance’s eyes focus on my shoulder.

I stamp my foot in a pathetic attempt to make him listen to me…to gain some power.My anger and exhaustion have handed him all the cards.Or maybe fate dealt Temperance all the aces—I never had a choice in this, and I still don't.

Depression, a stifling fog, surrounds me, and I slump under its arrival.

"Don't worry, you'll be safe here,” Temperance says, his eyes scanning my bedroom.

"How can you say that?" I ask, all the anger leached away by the sadness. "Someone knows who I am, and that I'm working for you. If they can get to me in a secure airport lounge, they can get to me anywhere. I don't even know what I'm doing, but others—killers—do."

The skin around his eyes tightens. “Yes, but they wanted the pen. And you don’t have it anymore. So you’re safe.”For now.

"The pen has something to do with Vladimir?"

"You're better off not knowing."

"Really? That's funny. Because if I had known I was in danger, maybe I would have been a little more prepared."

His gaze returns to mine. “Assume you're in danger then."

Oh, that’s comforting. Hallmark should give this guy a show.

Temperance's hand lands on my good shoulder. "I'll get the plastic surgeon over here this afternoon. Don't worry, the scar won't hurt your career. You'll have some calls this week. Your next big role is coming soon."

"I'd like to be alone," I say, my voice wooden. I'm too tired for this.

Temperance steps back. "You did great," he says again, before turning to the door. I don't respond, just listen as he leaves, the front door automatically locking behind him. Taking a deep breath, I put the chain on before heading back to the bathroom for that shower.

All I want is to climb into bed and cry, but that's not me. I'm going to shower, then I'm going to pick up Archie…and I'm going to buy a freaking gun.

Chapter Eleven

Sweat beadson Temperance’s forehead, dripping down his temple. His eyes are bright, hypnotic. I can't reach him. Searing pain lances through my shoulder, and I wake with a start, twisted in my sheets, damp from my own sweat. The light in my bedroom is the gray mist of dawn.

Archie stirs in his cage, flopping over so that his collar jangles against the metal. I should have taken it off last night.

My breath is evening out. The dream is fading quickly. I reach to my side table, feeling for the pistol I bought. I've got a lesson this afternoon. My eyes catch on the alarm clock. It's 5:45 a.m. I roll away from the window and close my eyes, but my heart is still hammering, and there is no way I'm going to sleep again.

So I grab my phone and check it. There is a text from Julian; it came in at midnight. He wants to see me today. I bite my lower lip. I've been avoiding him for the past week as my shoulder healed, but it's doing a lot better now, and I can just lie about it. The plastic surgeon Temperance sent to me suggested I say that I had a mole removed.

The thought churns my stomach. I don’t want to lie to Julian. In the dusty light of dawn, with the memories of my dreams swirling, I can admit that I really like Julian. He's gorgeous, fun, attentive and great in bed. What's not to like?

He's a movie star with more notches on his bedpost than Don Juan.

I navigate to my Instagram and go through the comments on my latest post—a picture of Archie next to the pool.Happy to be home after an awesome month promotingThe Tempestaround the world!I quickly delete all the crazy comments. People are sick.