Bedmates Soulmates

Henry nodded at Austyn approvingly. He got your father into the best hospital in Stamford, made sure his body recovered completely from the car accident, and kept him primed for the transplant surgery." The old man smiled. "And he even got to you. You're the Hewitt man's only living cellarive. With you under Austyn's thumb, the surgery could go ahead without a bloch.'

He eyed Kira up and down and clicked his tongue. "Don't act like this is a big loss for you. Your dad's a vegetable. He can't move, can't talk, can't contribute anything to society. Hia existence is just a waste of space. By giving up his organs, he can at least buy you a life of wealth and comfort. You should thank him, really." Henry examined his fingertips. That's about all I have to say to you. If you are smart, you'll lotow to take the win and stop making such a fuss. If you keep this up and continue to plas me off, you're going to get your title of Mrs McCarthy stripped. Then your father will have died for nothing"

He waved a hand dismissively. Now, put away your gin and stand aside, I don't want to hear another word out of you." Kice stood stock-still.

For the first time in her life, she realised that not all life was created equal,

In the eyes of someone like Henry McCarthy, her father's life was worth less than the ants they trod on

To him, Leland Hewitt wasn't aboman being at all.

He was a thing, a commodity to be bought and sold and disposed of at will

Henry was right about one thing, though

He called Kira nave

Which she had been

wasn't a stupidly trusting, she would have seen through Austyn on the first day they

would not have foolishly believed in the pie that fell from the sky.

She would not have deluded herself into thinking that str, Kira Hewitt, a lowly plebetan, could live a fairy tale life.

There was no such thing as a tree lunch in the real world.

She understood that now, but the price for that lesson was her father's life.

Kira similed, an abjectly mourful, heartbreaking smile

'My father's gone now. She raised the gui "Wiry should you get to live?!

She pulled the trigger

A bodyguard langed at Kirs at the same time.

He tackled her to the ground just as other guard dived in front of Henry

The deafeningly loud gunshot reverberated in the hallway,

His Exstence is Just A Waste Of Space

Everyone's ears were ringing.

"Take her away" Henry bellowed.

The armchair had toppled over when the guard threw his body over his master's

Henry clambered to his feet, furious.

Austyn stepped in front of Kira, blocked the oncoming blow from a guard and jabbed the man in his throat.

"What are you all waiting for?" Henry snapped at the remaining guards. "Get them both!"

The guards reached tor their weapons..

Austyn tried to wrench the gun away from Kira, but her fingers were clamped down tightly around the trigger guard.

The muscles in her hand had become so rigid that it was impossible to move them.

Kira's face was sheet white.

She was in shock

Austyn pulled Kira to stand behind him, using his body as a shield.

The guards converged, advancing on him.