Roxy swung the heavy metal base of the lamp with every ounce of strength she possessed, aiming directly for the back of Marcus's skull.
But Marcus had spent years operating on a hyper-vigilant, paranoid frequency of absolute control. The faint, rushing sound of her hospital gown sweeping against the linoleum was all the warning he needed.
With a sudden, violent pivot, Marcus spun around. He threw his arm up, his hand catching the thick metal pole just inches from his face.
The impact sent a jarring, painful shockwave down Roxy's arms, but the lamp stopped dead in the air.
Marcus's dark eyes widened in shock, which instantly boiled over into rage.
With a sharp, brutal twist, he wrenched the heavy lamp out of her trembling grip. He threw it carelessly across the room. The metal crashed against the sterile wall, shattering the bulb in a shower of sparks and glass.
