The emotional conclusion to the sexy contemporary romance that began with Collide , this New York Times bestselling author delivers a powerful story of obsession, vulnerability, and love pushed to the breaking point as a woman is torn between her seemingly perfect boyfriend and a dark, mysterious stranger. “Do you know how scary it is to want something so bad you’re willing to change your whole life for it?” Emily Cooper is ready to risk everything for the man who has consumed her thoughts since the moment they met. As her life begins to unravel, she clings to the hope that Gavin Blake—the dark, magnetic stranger she can’t forget—still wants her as desperately as she wants him. Haunted by heartbreak, Gavin has shut himself off from the world, retreating into isolation and self-destruction. Emily has never been the strong one, but loving Gavin demands courage she never knew she had. To save him, she must fight for their future—even if it means losing herself to a passion that is as dangerous as it is irresistible. Intense, emotionally charged, and unforgettable, this is the pulse-pounding finale to Emily and Gavin’s story. Gail McHugh is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Collide and Pulse . She is the mother of three beautiful children and has been married to her husband for fifteen years. Pulse Chapter One A Missed Last Encounter Emily leaned her head against the taxi window, watching the city lights of Manhattan with tear-soaked eyes. In a blur, the look on Gavin’s face as he had walked away from her a few hours before rushed through her mind. The closer she got to his building, and the further away she got from her past with Dillon, the more she felt as though her sanity and heart were hanging by a delicate thread. She shifted restlessly and her gaze fell on the glowing green light of the digital clock. It was nearly one o’clock in the morning. A glimmer of hope flooded her body, and she squeezed her eyes shut, praying Gavin would take her back. As the taxi pulled up in front of his high-rise, she reached in her purse and pulled out a wad of cash. After handing the unknown amount to the driver, she swung open the door and stepped onto the sidewalk into the cold, late November air. “Hey!” the Middle Eastern driver called. “You have to close the door, lady!” Emily heard his words but paid him no mind. Her fumbling feet pushed her forward, kept her moving toward what she hoped would be a new start. A new future with the man she knew she couldn’t live without. She pulled open the door and crossed the lobby. Sweat clung like decay across her flesh. With a trembling hand, she pressed the button for the elevator. Her nerves skyrocketed with love and anxiety. Once the elevator doors opened, she stepped inside and leaned against the wall, physically and mentally exhausted. As she tried to stop shaking, tears steadily fell. Unsure of Gavin’s reaction, Emily struggled to pull in a decent breath. She tried to tamp down the wicked emotions curling through her. The doors opened to what would either be a new beginning . . . or an end. Feet glued to the ground, she stood frozen for a moment, her eyes trained on the wall across the hallway. Vaguely aware of the elevator doors gliding closed, she became dizzy as she lifted her hand to hold it open. Slowly, she stepped out. Her vision tunneled as she turned toward Gavin’s penthouse, and her mind spun out of control with every possible scenario. She strained to focus on his words from earlier, allowing her fear to wane as her feet led her closer. Her pace quickened with every step. Once she reached his unit, her fears returned with a vengeance, anchoring heavy in her chest. With trepidation, she knocked on his door, each knock mimicking the fierce pounding of her heart. She wiped away tears as her body trembled from head to toe. The minutes ticked by with no answer, and she knocked again, harder. “Please answer.” She chanted the silent prayer while ringing his doorbell. With tears trickling down her cheeks, she stared at the peephole, envisioning him staring back. The thought of him watching her stung and cut a path through her heart. “Please,” she cried, ringing the doorbell again. “God, Gavin, please. I love you. I’m so sorry.” Nothing. Hands still shaking, she reached in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed Gavin’s number. Eyes locked on his door, she listened to it ring over and over again. “You’ve reached Gavin Blake. You know what to do.” Emily’s heart clenched, tightened, and dropped into the pit of her stomach when she heard his voice. That sweet voice would forever haunt her if he didn’t take her back. That sweet, pleading voice that had begged her to believe him. She hung up, dialed again, and listened once more. She didn’t speak. She couldn’t. Her frantic breathing would be the only message he would receive. Words . . . she had none. Emily pressed a hand to her mouth as the realization h