a's

he next

dull, throbbing pain pulsed through my head, and my entire body ached like

sleep, but something beneath me jabb

the

ddenly feel like

lids felt like they weighed a ton. It took ev

fr

omplete

on the

A

m my throat befor

ng the towel from the back of the couch and wrapping it tightly around myself. I looked like a

all crashed over me at onc

door swung open w

essed in nothing but a towel, water still dripping from

was seeing. He snatched a vase from the table and

as

d, shards skitteri

g at my heel. I looked down-blood. A red trail bega

again, this tim

the mattress like I weighed nothing. Then he shoved a pillowca

le body trembled. There was something in his exp

just like that, pieces of th

ter burn of alcohol. His

it again. He picked up a phone, barked out orders with casual indifference

ked toward the wardrobe, openin

pull myself together. My thoughts were a tangled m

blanket tighter around me, sitting up slowly. I check

little. Maybe... may

there. I limped to them, wrapped in the blanket, and hurried in

the cold tile floor and patched up my foot as best I could. Then I ca

reathe, then stepped

man wa

om was

thinking it was meant for me. He didn't strike me as the kind of man who'd offer kindness out of nowhere-es

st wasn't an

essage: You know

e b

to. This place-his presence, even in absence-felt

out, I let a quiet word

nk y

o the man who took me in for the n

lly exhale. The shame, the confusion, the fear that had been

ds were st

re. But the way I looked this morning-hair like a bird's nest, rumpled clothe

y to defend myself if anyo

tepped into the locker ro

dress wa

o way she hits those s

and kept my eyes down, refusing to let the tears win. Who would bel

't even beli

oor, just wanting to disappear. But as

ri

me like a freight train. Sweaty, out of

" I bl

he wheezed, grabbing my arm. "Real expensive car, too.

blinked,

in the hotel room. Cold eyes. Th

bed like it r

ything else, Hank was

at the curb, sleek and menacing l

ened. Men in black suits stepped out-s

f them said.

dn't b

ailored trouser leg followed, then the broad figure of

was

an from th

ease. When his eyes found mine, a chill ran down m

embling. "S-Sir...

st flicked his gaze

ound us, blocking out the curious

his voice low and biting. "Yo

h

hat sharp "Get out" from the night befor

, burning hot, his finger

d me gone," I stammered.

k me," he said c

m skin. A da

ed all o

is furious expression, the sound of ripping

my

asn't the po

pay for th

he interrupted smoothl

as calm, al

asking about