Page 72 of One Forbidden Moment

The darkness surged forward, wrapping around Jillian's waist like a living storm.She screamed as it yanked her backward, her feet leaving the floor.

Moe lunged, grabbing her wrist."Leave her alone.She's mine!"

The shadow pulled harder.

Her body jerked violently, her scream ripping through him.Moe planted his feet, pulling with everything he had, his muscles burning, his heart pounding.

"Hold on!"He refused to let go."Hold on to me!"

"I'm trying!"she sobbed, her fingers slipping in his grip."Moe—!"

"Get the fuck away from her!"

But the darkness didn't care about his feelings.It didn't care that it was ripping out his heart.It didn't care that he was nothing without Jillian.

The shadow wrapped around her like a cocoon, dragging her toward the wall—toward a swirling vortex of black that hadn't been there a moment ago.He recognized the veil.

Jillian's fingers slid in his hands as she slipped from his grasp.

"No," he roared, pulling her back with a strength born of pure terror."You're not taking her, you motherfucker!"

The shadow pulsed, and then it struck.

A blast of cold slammed into Moe's chest, knocking the air out of him.Jillian screamed as the darkness ripped her from his arms.He lunged again, grabbing her shirt, her hand, anything he could reach.

Their trembling fingers touched desperately.

"Moe," she cried, reaching for him.

"Jillian."

The darkness swallowed her whole.

Without a thought for himself, he dove after her.

The veil consumed him instantly, dragging him into the vortex and into a world of cold, silence, and nothingness.

Their screams echoed once.

Then vanished.