sted hinges, was pushed open. The metal scrap

filled the doorway, blocking the yel

r shoes making soft, delibera

e sharp, chemical scent of cheap cologne mixed wit

rfectly even, playing the ro

dip slightly as Kris

amp with sweat, press

ement was excruciatingly slow, heav

calluses catching on her skin. His finge

tight fists. Her fingernails bit so deeply into h

s eyes right now, she could blind him. But she didn't have th

Ainsley's voice rang o

! Dinner's g

Alissa's nec

d his hand back, as if h

his lips hovering jus

he whispered, his voice thick

ked out of the room, pulling the do

ess of the room mirrored the abso

teady, rhythmic drum of p

orcing the icy air into her lungs to

c plates and the muffled sounds of Ainsley's fake, bubbly laught

t off and swung her legs

buckled. A wave of dizziness hit her, but she locked her jaw and

The hard floor bruised her

she reached her hand under the fa

sty springs and thick dust bunnies unti

It was an old, fa

nside lay a small, pathetic

dollars and twenty-five cents. It was the original Aliss

to a neat, tight square, was

filtering through the dirty window illum

ittle bird. Don't tell Ains

physical revulsion was so strong she

oming-the lingering hugs, the whispered thr

tly. Her eyes narrowed in

shoved it into the lining of her

ow she found it, and shoved it deep under the mattre

to bed and pulled the

brain shifted into combat mode, running thro

eat. He was a ticking time bomb of sexual

land her in prison. She needed something that would

oy's mother-in-law, Martha. The sweet ol

n began to take sha

ssa smiled. It was a terrifying, bloodless smile. She closed her