PROLOGUE
CHLOE
THEN
TEN YEARS AGO
Agony slices through every muscle, my body carrying me forward despite how broken it is.
Tears fall against my cheeks, but my sobs are drowned out by gasping breaths.
If I can just escape, I can get medical attention.
That’s the only thought that drives me forward, the only hope I have as my life crashes down around me.
Dogs howl in the distance, and I stumble over a branch at the sound.
They know I’ve escaped.
Just keep running,I tell myself.
The wall is close. Or at least I think it is.
I’ve lived on these grounds my whole life, spent countless hours exploring and memorizing, but my panic-riddled mind struggles to identify anything other than the dark spots closing in around my vision.
The ache in my chest only seems to intensify the longer I run, but I can’t tell if it’s the exertion from running nonstop while broken and bleeding, or if it’s the heartbreak setting in.
The knowledge that the men who promised me the world were the same ones who led to my downfall.
Just the thought of Ronan and Damon has a fresh wave of tears blurring the path ahead of me.
I’ve done a decent job of compartmentalizing up until this point, but the closer I get to freedom, the harder it is not to think about them and all the promises they made me.
Made us.
My hand drops to my stomach, to the life that’s growing inside me, to the reason I have to escape now before they can kill me too.
If it was just me I was fighting for, I don’t think I would have half as much willpower to flee. After everything I’ve been through over the last few days, it would probably be easier just to lie down and die, but it’s not just me anymore, and I’m determined to give this baby a beautiful life.
Even if it’s on the run.
Even if I have no support system or way to provide for us.
Even if I spend the rest of our lives looking over my shoulder, waiting for them to find us.
It’ll be worth it.
Another round of barks startles me from my thoughts. They’re getting closer.
I break through the trees and stop short as the imposing concrete wall comes into view.
As kids, we spent hours climbing this thing, sneaking out when our parents were none the wiser. But I’ve never tried to scale it after being beaten and starved for days on end, and for the first time since I escaped, I’m beginning to doubt my ability to do this.
A fresh wave of panic slams into me, stealing the breath from my lungs. I press my eyes closed, trying and failing to regain my composure.
There will be plenty of time to fall apart later.
Once I’m safe. Once I’m away from the compound. Once the Lombardis are nothing but a memory of a past life.
