C17 – DON'T LOOK AT HER, DON'T THINK ABOUT HER

The conversation at the table continued with banal comments about investments, smuggling routes, old deals, and common enemies. Voices were soft, toasts measured.

But Lucy heard none of it—all she felt were his fingers approaching dangerously close to her core.

"E-Eros…" she whispered under her breath. "What—what are you going to do?"

Her heart was in her throat, half from fear of being discovered, half from what he was doing to her.

"Breathe, chér