a didn't notice how deep she was falling until she

like it was the only name that ever belonged to her. He took her out to hidden spots in the ci

ght, tracing her jaw with his thumb. "

eliev

anything-until he did. Small things at first. A favor here. A secret there. "Don't tell your fri

ded lik

like d

nce, just for a moment-when a man bumped into her and Damien stepped in, jaw clenched, eyes burning. He d

o protect you. You

t racing, unsure if

ones. Designer bags, jewelry

from?" she asked onc

orry about it. Just

out. When he touched her, she forgot the questions.

ed like this before. Ne

r to move in, she said

art of her old life-her freedo

Sh

ment was

t from the moment Alina stepped inside, it didn't feel like home-it felt like a stage. Every room was

of looked like. That the cameras outside the door were for her protection, no

ame th

e, one there. Too subtle to notice

the door when

without tell

that-it's to

anyone I have

questioned him-it made her small. As if every word of doubt was betrayal.

und her phone gon

her hair like she was a pet. "From the wor

but her heart

for hours, sometimes days. When she aske

sin

ea

wouldn't u

ng man became a shadow of control, cold and calculating. His touche

saw it-acc

laptop. Girls. Other girls. Dressed u

ood ra

didn't

hose

the truth was close. Tangible. It hung in t

sn't i

s in d

s already