Chapter 40 The Aftershock

• A sharp inhale tore through Mariana’s lungs as she jerked awake. Her body ached, a dull, throbbing pain radiating from her shoulder, ribs, and legs. The weight of exhaustion pinned her down, the world spinning for a moment before her vision cleared. The sheets beneath her were impossibly soft, the scent of leather and cedar clinging to the air. She wasn’t in her apartment.
• She turned her head, wincing. The penthouse loomed around her, dark and sleek, every inch of it wrapped in quiet luxury. Diego’s space. The realization sent a shudder down her spine.
• A chair scraped softly across the floor.