Chapter 2
Corbin did not wait for Tabitha to comply. He crashed into her personal space, his large hand seizing her wrist with enough force to grind the bones together. He snatched the inhaler from her fingers in a single, violent motion. Without missing a beat, Corbin brought his free hand across in a devastating, open-handed slap that connected squarely with Tabitha’s jaw.
The impact echoed across the stone patio like a pistol shot. Tabitha was thrown backward, her expensive heels skidding against the pavement as she crashed into a wrought-iron garden chair. She immediately brought a hand up to her fair face, the skin rapidly blooming into a dark, angry red welt.
Corbin ignored her completely. He dropped to his knees, his tailored trousers grinding against the rough stone, and caught Juniper just as the little girl’s legs gave out. He pulled her against his broad chest, swiftly unrolling the inhaler and pressing the plastic mouthpiece past her pale lips.
"Breathe, baby. Daddy’s got you," Corbin urged, his deep voice trembling with adrenaline as he depressed the canister. "Take it in. One, two, three."
Juniper inhaled a ragged, shallow breath, followed immediately by a violent coughing fit. Corbin held her steady, his large hand rubbing firm, reassuring circles on her small back. He administered a second puff, watching her chest intently, waiting for the life-saving medication to break through the severe bronchial spasms.
Above them, Tabitha pulled herself upright. She smoothed her elegant blouse, her earrings swaying as she composed herself. She looked down at the father and daughter on the ground. There was no shock in her eyes, no trace of remorse for pushing a four-year-old to the brink of asphyxiation.
"She better get used to going without it," Tabitha stated, her voice dismissive and dripping with cruel indifference. "This family doesn't have room for fragile little liabilities. You're making her soft, Corbin."
Corbin didn't look up. His entire universe was focused on the fragile, shivering child in his arms. He felt Juniper’s lungs expand against his chest. The terrifying, high-pitched wheezing began to smooth out, shifting back into the rhythmic, steady pull of normal respiration. The color slowly returned to her cheeks, bringing back her natural, rosy complexion.
Juniper’s breathing stabilized. She let out a long, shuddering sigh, burying her face into the crook of Corbin’s neck. He closed his eyes, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, wrapping his arms around her with a fierce, unbreakable grip.
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"I will kill you, Tabitha," Corbin whispered into the child’s hair, the promise carrying across the patio with chilling clarity. "If you ever come within ten feet of her again, I will tear you apart with my bare hands."
Tabitha merely scoffed, adjusting her bracelet, completely unmoved by the threat of a man who commanded an entire criminal syndicate.
