Adrian Quincy instinctively pulled her into a tight embrace, wishing he could meld her into his very bones. "It's okay now. I taught him a lesson for you. Calm down, okay?"
"I… I want to get someone to change the locks… I promised my sister I'd protect myself… I did protect myself… I really did… I want to get someone to change the locks…"
She rambled incoherently, unable to calm her racing thoughts.
Adrian Quincy's heart ached as he looked down at her trembling lips.
He then noticed the bruises on the corner of her mouth, her neck, and her arms. She had been hit.
'Damn it, she was actually hit!'
Adrian Quincy was consumed with self-blame. 'If I hadn't left her here alone, this never would have happened. It's all my fault for being so arrogant!'
"Claire Sinclair, look at me!" he demanded, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Claire Sinclair's vision swam for a moment, as if she'd been jolted awake. Then, her tears began to pour. "SOB… I thought it was all over… SOB…"
