hear him downstairs, his voice low and

dn't need to. My father's whimper

d given me still clutched in my han

r L

nster? How did you explain that you were leaving and never coming back? That ever

go away fo

so badly the lette

best thing in my life, and I need you to be strong now. St

inked them back furiously. Cr

n anything in this

ss

threw some clothes into a bag. He said I didn't need much. That e

k hair, sharp cheekbones, eyes that had seen too much too soo

myself and m

t he'd broken me with one threat, bent

at he'd just brou

k leather interior, tinted windows, the kind of c

essionless, opening it for me li

id i

e, legs crossed, checkin

ettled into the seat as

he said casually. "Be

d y

u, Cassia. He cried because he's afraid of wh

He was right, an

ly home I'd ever known. I didn'

said after a few minutes of silence.

threatens fiftee

d. "I wouldn't h

ould have

sh some ground rules, Cassia. I don't tolerate disobedience. I don't tolerate disrespect. And I certa

sn't afraid. Even though I was. Even though my he

u can do whatever you want to me. But you will never, ever own me. Not really. I'll play your

it me. His hand twitched, his eyes

he la

ugh, like I'd just told the

d, leaning back.

st nightmare,

ke I was a puzzle he couldn't wait to

easily. Cried, begged, tried

possessive. "But you... you're going to f

nt o

myself not to flinch as his fingers b

ugh the trees like someth

ll windows that looked like

anicured, a fountain in the circular driveway th

oing to be

Killian said as

word felt

d out onto marble pavers, my cheap shoe

e, taking my pathetic bag,

en I s

ther

women of varying ages and appearances, all watching me wit

possessive on the small of my bac

k hair swept up elegantly, eyes

of smile that