The rider uses a technique, breaking the neck cleanly, so there is no suffering. That is why it is important not to allow it to be personal if at all possible. You always want the visit to be about justice, not revenge.

For all the downsides to being a rider, there was his family. Always there. Always ready to help and watch out for one another. His family was one of the biggest gifts he had to offer Grace.

What did she think? That a man like Vittorio Ferraro was playing an elaborate hoax on her? That was absurd. She just knew she knew she couldn't take rejection from him, so it was easier to leap on the first legitimate excuse to run. Her jumbled fears weren't making any sense.

She didn't tell him, but his voice alone could seduce her. Having his hand on her was beyond exciting. Exhilarating. She wanted more. She wanted to feel as if she belonged to him.

She was an intelligent woman and she wasn't just going to hand herself over to him because she was tempted. He loved that about her because it meant when she did fully surrender, he'd earned it and he had a much better chance of keeping her when he had to tell her he was a shadow rider and what that meant for both of them.

He'd meant what he'd said when he'd told her he didn't want to ever see her hurt or with tears in her eyes. He knew never was a long time, but he would still do his best to make that promise count.

She was known as QBSITDROH" She rattled off the letters fast as if she'd used them often. [...]"You'll have to teach your special name to sisters-in-law. They occasionally need a humorous way to cope. What does it stand for?""Queen bitch spawned in the deepest recesses of hell.

He needed her to know who he was-her man. Her lover. The man she trusted to always take care of her, have her back, give her everything.

The feelings of conquest and possession mixing with love were a heady combination. Those traits were deep in him and she accepted him without judgment. How could he not be in love with her?