Chapter 2Mary’s stomach churned as she looked at the dark purple and blue ring around Hal’s throat, but she kept her face impassive, free of emotion. She needed to be strong for Hal, for everybody. And part of being strong was not showing how damned scared she had been. How damned scared she still was.
Each time Hal exhaled, his breath wheezed through his throat.
“Do you think you can eat something tonight?” Mary asked softly. “I’ve got some soup.”
Mention of food made Hal grimace, his handsome features momentarily marred. “Still have to swallow for soup,” he rasped. “But I have a feeling you’re going to make me eat it anyway. You’re as bad as my mother sometimes.”
Mary looked away, pretending to straighten the papers on the table between them. “I’ll make a deal with you, okay? If you
