n't

en, heart hammering, and he's looking a

to trade me to another man

d horror mingling as Sebast

this, you know," he says to Christoph

ng at him. "I know that, Sebastia

the bar as my legs threaten to give out. The man I loved once and trusted com

ong with him? How d

y, downing the first shot in one gulp and feeling t

ond, hoping it will somehow dull the ho

e room, harsh and guttural. I don't even need t

I close my eyes, forcing down the panic rising in me. Whe

iant as I meet his gaze. I search his eyes, pleading silently for him to back down, t

int of

ven r

gain," Sebastian calls out from the table, h

ith dread as Christ

ake me do this. I am your f

d, yanking me roughly and dragging me

he slams me against the cold, tiled wall, his hand aro

is inches from mine, his eyes cold and filled with some

out, struggling against his grip. "I'm the mothe

cy anyway. The least you can do is make yourself useful. That man in there is very important to my co

ngth fading as his words cut deeper than any p

Tears prick at my eye

im see me bre

teady myself. He straightens, brushing a hand over his sui

s cold as ever, before he turns and walks out, le

tand there, breathing hard, my hand tre

. How did it come to this? The man I fell in love with, the man who once promised me the world

reapplying the makeup over my smudged cheeks. It

f paint to cove

, a ghostly silence filling the room. The bart

s. With numb fingers, I take it from him, fee

on it stare back at

ough, maybe I'll wake up and this nightmare will end. But it doesn't. I linger outside the

and push open the door t

with a grand view of the city skyline stretc

is Sebastian, shirtless, his broad s

ving a piece of myself behind. When I stop beside him, he doesn't turn to

ur cloth

ey, my hands moving to the zipper on my d

, the whiskey threatening to come bac

g the zipper the rest of the way. I flinch, a shiver ru

owing as he studies me. I stare at him, confusion

faint bruises, the evidence of Christopher's anger. His jaw ti

ly able to meet his eyes. "I'm... I'm sorry.

is expressio

topher do t

at him, frozen, feeling t

unhook my bra, determined to get this transaction over

to

nfusion clouding my mind. "I...

d and unyielding. "I said, put your clothes back on

searching his face f

ave of humiliation through me, and I swallow, my throat tightening as I mu

ething dark flashing in his eyes.

nger mix as I turn back toward the window, looking

't you lef

ice barely above a whisper. "But if I do, he wi

voice softer than I expected, he sa

ly, "Why wouldn't he? Chris has only ever loved three things-drugs,

g unreadable crossing his face before he turn

rs, walking to the bar, his

n, not here. But inside, I feel shattered. Each piece of myself lo