No part of you is dark or ugly,' I said sharply, squeezing his hand. 'Not to me, not ever. Do you understand?

That was the Liam Stewart way of saying, Hi, darlin', missed you something fierce.

A moment later, Liam's bright blue eyes opened, and he was seeing me. He just wasn't seeing Ruby.

He held me against him gently, as if I was glass - as if I could shatter and fall away from him at any moment and leave him breathless and alone once more.

You can destroy a factory, and they'll build another. But once you destroy a life, that's it. You never get that person back.

I bet it gets pretty lonely with only your ego for company.

Clancy had taught me well.