he paused after she shut the door behind her, already wondering how to hide from him. "You're home early," she

d. "Yeah. Don't act

e had always thought a lump of coal resided. She tu

hrew another dish into a box, and she winced as she heard it crack and break. "And looki

deed, there were a swarm of black-clad men about, but she saw no sight of Zane. She let go the

y. Scott dropped another plate into the box, h

Another one of their meager supply gone. She hissed her displeasure but said nothing. He had every right to be upset. He placed his hands on his lean hips and examine

him and tucking her arms about his waist. "We

ce. They were back to friendship, their spat over, a fuse quickly set and just as quickly extinguis

ered. "But I was

d acceptance kicked in. For them to stay alive, they could never allow that feeling in their hearts. She was guilty, too. She wanted to stay. She wanted a real home, a real life, a husband that might love her

idn't know everything. Gwen pulled him down onto the seat of the so

oday when you were out?" he said, stiffly asking

locked it from her memory before now: the stench, the repulsiveness of that man's want, the intensity of her fears and her useless body as it strug

t the hell happened?" he barked. Not from a state of d

death," she

consolingly. "Tell me.

already here." Gwen gave him a sad s

ho

an

d mid-stroke. "Who

. She gave Scott an imploring look. Not that it mattered

," she sai

e h

ft smile. "You wo

that if you don't stop speaking in riddles I'm going to open that front

died before long. She knew he'd never hurt her phy

d you wouldn'

ent back on his hips, his fac

ze her erratic heartbeat. She still couldn't ra

d your life?" Scott star

bout the Detestables. They only cared about the quota that they got from bringing p

, she paused thoughtfully.

w that, right? Why would a

and then wanted to butcher me." She hadn't wanted to admit the truth, tears run

s hands and looked at the floor with quiet unease. He shot her a careful glance, o

hand back on his leg, consoling him. He lifted his head, and his eyes were bright with unshed tea

would an Enforcer d

nk I've wondered that the en

more to it than just helping you. Otherwise, wh

handsome Enforcer who had helped her, just as she mulled at her bottom li

her shoulder. The gesture should've felt reassuring, but

im pack. They had to leave, and it was because of her. It was always because of her. She attracted

pack, when it was useless. Gwen looked towards her husband, waiti

going to the window and looking out, each time his f

ho

chance of

ome, the Enforcers. The knock sounded, louder and insistent. Dizziness came over her, knowing it wasn't who her h