mbled in t

n blanket. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Her eye

ack to the pouring rain

it. His eyes sliced through the ra

family. He pointed directly at her face. "His sins, you will atone for." In her nightm

deafening roar. Jocelyn opened her mouth to scream that

of thunder sha

bolted upright in bed, gasping fo

gainst her ribs. Her pajamas clung to her skin, soaked in co

e digital clock o

00

forbidden her from leaving. But the th

he freezing hardwood floor. She turned the lock a

ssed her back against the wallpaper, creeping toward t

arm, yellow pendant light hung ove

ator. She pulled out a bottle of water, twisted

sophagus, soothing the burn. Sh

rned a

t on a barstool in the

stic water bottle slipp

heavy thud. Water splash

half-smoked cigar between his fingers. The brief flash of

ing his chest. He took a slow drag of the cigar, exhaled a

blood turn

stammered, her voice cracking

aned forward and crushed the

me moved out of the shadows,

stepped back. Her spine hit the cold meta

zed her e

ds flat against the refrigerator door, caging he

expensive whiskey, fanned across her neck. His eyes dragged down he

Elam growled. His voice was a low, da

hard enough to taste the sharp, metallic tan

resistance. His eyes d

his large fingers wrapping around her nape. He for

g every word, "you are a sinner. You d

. The tears she fought so h

own her cheek and dropped o

er tear hit his skin.

been burned. He masked the sudden

pped, his voice harsher than

is arm, leaving the spilled water on th

He stared at the wet spot on the back o

eath, yanking at the c

ed it in one swallow. The alcohol burned his throat, but it did n

er the covers. She shivered violently until t

ag. She had to get to c