Bound By Blood To The Mafia King

The thick steel needle slid out of the vein in Ashlyn's forearm.

The immediate rush of blood back into the punctured tissue brought a sharp, stinging bite. She bit down hard on her pale lower lip, the metallic taste of her own blood grounding her.

The nurse pressed a sterile cotton swab ruthlessly against the puncture wound. A sudden, violent wave of dizziness hit Ashlyn. The sterile white walls of the penthouse medical room tilted. Her body swayed, her center of gravity completely thrown off by the massive loss of blood.

"Pathetic."

The voice came from the hospital bed. Diana Robinson let out a cold, dry scoff. Her lips were cracked and pale, but her eyes burned with absolute disdain.

"You're just a greedy bitch selling your blood for dirty dollars," Diana spat, her voice raspy but full of venom. "Don't act like you're dying."

Ashlyn lowered her eyelashes. The thick lashes perfectly concealed the absolute, freezing indifference in her eyes.

When she looked up, her shoulders were hunched. She shrank back into the oversized hospital gown, her hands trembling as she clutched the fabric over her chest.

"I... I'm sorry, Diana," Ashlyn whispered, her voice shaking violently. "I just... I feel a little weak."

The fragile, overly dramatic display infuriated Diana. The heart monitor next to the bed beeped faster. Diana grabbed the half-empty plastic water cup from her bedside table and hurled it with all her remaining strength.

The hard plastic grazed Ashlyn's shoulder and slammed into the floor. Water exploded across the pristine tiles, splashing against Ashlyn's bare ankles.

Ashlyn gasped, taking a quick, stumbling step backward. She pressed her back against the wall, eyes wide, playing the role of the utterly terrified, helpless victim to perfection.

The private doctor stepped forward, his face stern. He raised a hand to calm Diana's erratic breathing.

"That's enough," the doctor said sharply. He turned to the nurse. "Help Miss Grant out to the living room. She needs to rest."

Ashlyn swatted the nurse's reaching hand away.

"I can walk," she murmured, her voice barely a breath.

She pushed her weight against the heavy, soundproofed door of the medical room. It clicked shut behind her, cutting off Diana's heavy breathing.

The hallway of the penthouse was freezing. The cold air conditioning blasted against her thin cotton gown. Ashlyn violently shivered. A fine layer of cold sweat broke out across her forehead.

She leaned her shoulder against the freezing marble wall, dragging her feet forward. With every step she took, her heart hammered against her ribs, struggling to pump oxygen through her depleted veins.

Her vision started to blur. At the end of the long corridor, the massive crystal chandelier splintered into dozens of blinding, painful spots of light.

She closed her eyes, forcing her brain to work. Over 600cc. An incredibly dangerous volume that would put any normal person into immediate hypovolemic shock. That's an extra fifty thousand dollars. Her mind calculated the numbers with ruthless precision. The funds would