I squeezed my eyes shut. Aunt Brenda would take care of my father. She wouldn’t let anything happen. But how long before she’d realise I was gone? How long before she’d notice I had disappeared without a trace? And Adrian…
My stomach lurched as red danced in front of my eyes. His soulless eyes. Had anyone found him yet? Did they know? Orwas his body still in that apartment, cold and alone, the way I had left him?
A sob ripped through me.
Adrian.
God,Adrian.
I clutched my chest, gasping as grief twisted violently inside me. I missed him. I missed him so much it made me sick. I could still feel his touch, still hear the way he said my name, still remember the warmth of his laugh.
And now he was gone.
Taken away from me like my mother.
Just like that.
I choked on breath, my fingers trembling as I dragged them over my face. My mother. He had spoken about her like he knew her, like he had some secret truth locked away, waiting for me to beg for it.
A part of me wanted to believe it was a lie, that he was just another powerful bastard who liked to play with his victim first.
But…
Something about him told me he was beyond that.
I shuddered at the memory of how I had almost run from his office. And the shameless part, he wasn’t even ashamed.
I was six when she had called me Stina, with that soft voice of hers, and warm hands cradling my cheeks. And the next year, she was gone. Like everyone else I had ever loved.
My chest ached and my breathing hitched. I couldn’t do this.
I didn’t want to sleep with him.
But if I refused? I’d never know the truth.
A bitter laugh bubbled in my chest as my head thudded back against the wall.
What was my body even worth anymore?
At least, if I obeyed, it would be my choice. At least, if I let him take me, it wouldn’t be by force.
Would it?
Or was I just convincing myself this was control when it was nothing but another form of surrender?
Tears slid down my cheeks. I wanted to believe there was another way, but deep down, I already knew my choice.
I had no choice.
If I wanted the truth, if I wanted to protect the only people I had left, I would have to give him everything.
Even if it shattered me.
A sudden, sharp knock on the door startled me, snapping me out of daze.
I sucked in a breath as I froze on the cold floor. My head was pounding as another knock came, and I panicked.
Was it him? No. If it were him, he wouldn’t knock twice.
