his face a mask of fury. "I've given you e

kick loose. "I didn't need your cash or your fancy w

ast as rapid because it got here, replaced by bloodless, unfeeling anger. "You think you're so unique?" he sne

y head. I felt his breath on my face, warm and stale. "Anthony,

edy, it vanished, replaced by a chilly, difficult clear-up. He leaned in nearer, his lips brushing

e man who promised me a higher future, turned out to be now a monster looming over me. I had no person to call, no person to

d, my voice uncooked and

n. My tears streamed down my face as he pressured himself on me, my cries muffled by his gr

and shaking on the bed. He fell asleep fast, his respiratory steady as though not

______

oing. We returned to the mansion, the motive force silent as he drove us again. Anthony acted as though

king in each detail. "Is everything all right, dears?" she asked

're okay, Evelyn," I lied, my voice sounding ho

but she nodded. "Alright," sh

ickly as we had been by myself, Anthony

his voice surprisingly tender.

ice bloodless. "Just don't. I

gone as quickly as it came. "Fine," he said rapidly. "We won't talk about i

h the surface. "I'll play my part," I said quietly. "I'll

"Good. Now get ready.

I needed to discover a way to survive this. I went into the bathroom, locking the door in the back of me.

elf, issuing orders to his staff and discussing business deals over

ation. To them, he was a superb, successful, music-rich p

e producers greeted. "Mrs. Rodriguez," h

rmured, my voice bar

h. "You equipped to get to work?" he

gaze on the ground. "

ng again to the produc

put when asked. But my thoughts were elsewhere, misplaced in the nightmare my existence

of everything crashing down on me. The tears I'd held back all day broke free, and I buried my face in my arms, sobbing u

n to a pleasant voice. I dialed Andy's number, pra

ne full of challenge. "Mia, wh

ice breaking. "I... I can't

d, his voice rising in panic. "T

mention that the door a