Valerie was shocked, twisting her body while simultaneously driving her knee toward Andrew.

Andrew ignored it completely, taking the hit squarely in his abdomen. He spat out another mouthful of blood, and his belly burned with excruciating pain. Even so, the pallor that flashed across his face vanished instantly.

Seemingly unaffected, he grabbed Valerie's shoulder. Then, with a violent pull, he yanked her graceful body straight down toward the ground.

Valerie's brows shot up in fury as her