The weight of it wasn’t overwhelming or terrifying. No, in fact, the weight felt more like a padlock, locking the tether around my waist forever. It was reassurance. I belonged to something, to someone. Always.
“Hadeon,” I whispered, running my fingers over the name. It must have been his middle name. It felt good on my tongue. Like a secret just for m—
The blankets ripped back, and I shoved that letter so far back under my pillow, I wondered if I would ever find it again.
A hand wrapped around my ankle, a scream catching in my throat as I was jerked down and flipped onto my back, my phone getting lost among the chaos.
Through the fear, my heart was racing in excitement. He was back. Back to claim what was his—
But it wasn’t blue eyes that I saw reflected back at me, villainous and glowing in a sick, hungry delight.
No, these eyes were green. Cold and evil and hidden behind aski mask, a black baton wrapped in leather gripped in his right hand.
My eyes widened, my blood chilling as the male pointed the baton at me and then pointed to the ground.
Where thefuckwas my dog?
But just as soon as the thought fell through me, a flash of white flew through the air.
Lucy sank her teeth into the man’s arms, and he snarled, immediately turning to attack her.
I scrambled off the bed and headed for the door, the sound of screaming causing my ears to ring.
I turned the handle, but the door was locked. He had enough forethought to lock the door, but not check for a fucking dog? Lucy must have been hiding on the other side of the bed, waiting for the best moment to attack. I had taught her that. I didn’t think it had ever stuck or that it would make sense in her mind, but it worked. She had waited for the perfect opportunity before lunging.
It took me five whole seconds to flip that lock and get out of the room, but as soon as I was in the hallway, I heard a sharpyelp!My skin filled with goosebumps at the sound of Lucy crying out in pain, but I kept running.
If he hurt my dog—if he hurt my fucking dog, I woulddestroyhim. I would rip him to shreds. I would fucking burn this whole goddamn world to the ground if he hurt my dog.
My gun was still on the counter, because like an idiot, I had been so focused on that letter, on distracting myself from that letter, that I hadn’t even touched it after Everett gave it to me.
I was sostupid.
I sprinted down the hall, hearing the guy running after me. I prayed the gun was still there. How had he gotten in? I was sure all the doors and windows were locked. I was sure of it. But if he came from any entry point in the front of the house, he wouldhave seen that gun.
Panic slammed through me just as I slid around the corner, my eyes widening and heart skipping when I saw the box still on the counter.
He had come in through the back—
A sharp pain exploded across my back as he slammed that baton into me.
I cried out, falling into the table, my back throbbing in pain, but my eyes remained locked on that box. I had to get to it. I didn’t have another choice.
I grunted, using the chairs to pull me forward. I was so close. Just a little more…
I wrapped my fingers around the edge of the box when his hand wrapped into my hair, jerking me back.
The box fell to the floor, the gun, mag, and bullets scattering.
Lucy’s snarls filled the room again, her barking.
The guy screamed, falling to the floor, pulling me with him, a cry leaving my lips. God, thathurt.
His grip loosened from my hair, his body being jerked away from me, and I looked back to see Lucy tearing into his leg, her eyes feral, her muzzle covered in blood.
I turned back to the gun, scrambling to my hands and knees, and rushed for it, only for his hand to wrap around my ankle again, jerking me down.
I snarled, reaching out for it just as he slammed his baton into my ankle. I yelped, looking back at him, trying to pull my ankle from his grip, but he jerked me forward, forcing me onto my back, slamming his baton into my stomach, the air leaving my lungs.
