Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77 The Puppet Strings

Atlas’s throat bobbed, but the words never came. Watching Marcus’s calm, deliberate menace made his skin crawl. If James really cut down, not even God Himself could patch the man back together…

“I’ll ask one last time. Speak or not?”

That sharp voice cracked through the clinic just then.

Natalie jerked her head toward the frosted glass of the treatment room—just in time to see a shadowy outline. James’s arm lifted. In his hand glinted the shape of something blade–like.

Below, the vague silhouette of Quinton’s hand.

Natalie’s stomach plummeted.

Lucy clutched at her, burying her face in Natalie’s chest as if to shut it all out.

Atlas spun his back to the door, shoulders tight.

Only Natalie stood rooted, eyes locked on the blurred glass, refusing to blink.

Marcus, seated in ease beside her, watched her instead. The fire and iron in her gaze slipped straight into his own. A curve tugged at his lips–half a smile, half a taunt.

Then, just as the weapon arced down-

“It was Zoey!”

Quinton’s shout rattled through the walls.

The glinting tool halted a hair above flesh.

“Clang-”

The object clattered to the floor, the sound slicing through the clinic.

Even outside, every ear caught it.

“Zoey?” Lucy’s voice pitched high, incredulous. She whipped her head toward Natalie. “Isn’t Zoey Victoria’s little shadow?”

Natalie’s eyes darkened, a cold storm gathering behind them. She nodded slowly. “Yes.”

1/3

Chapter 77 The Puppet Strings

+10 Free Coins

Marcus’s fingers stilled on the desk. The drumming stopped. His gaze softened by a fraction as it cut to Natalie. “So–an acquaintance?”

Natalie met his stare, then answered flatly, “She’s Victoria’s companion. Last time I inspected the clinic site, she was with her.”

Marcus sifted through memory, then inclined his head. “I remember.”

The latch clicked.

James emerged, broad frame blocking the door. Natalie hurried a step forward, peering past him.

Quinton slumped, blood trickling at his lip, bruises blossoming across his body. Not deep cuts, but punishment all the same.

Natalie had heard whispers that Marcus was ruthless. Now she saw his men carried the same steel.

“Since we’ve got our answer, get him to a hospital,” Marcus ordered, voice flat as stone. “Don’t leave filth on Ms. Foster’s floor.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Back door. The front’s crawling with eyes.”

Atlas jumped in to lead, James dragging Quinton in tow.

“I’ll help,” Lucy said quickly, darting after them.

Natalie gave a small nod, watching until the door closed behind.

Marcus’s gaze slid back to her. “Now that you know who sent him–how will you deal with it?”

She turned to him, their eyes locking. For a beat her mask slipped, then tightened again.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify