a Man

le new life I was trying to build. Davis' s words, his possessive claims, clawed at me. "Y

treaks of color. My injured hand throbbed, a constant re

ering wheel. "You' re mine, Brenna. You

y. "I am not yours, Davis. I am no one' s. And

You think I regret anything when it com

His face softened, a stark contrast to the hard

rmured into the phone, his voice lace

his face paling. "What?

s your fault, Brenna! Kiley says her mother' s condition has wo

her life, Davis. The rest is beyond my

ng. "Karma? Don' t you dare talk about karma! You'

voice unwavering. "And you know it. Perhaps the pr

The sudden stop threw me forward, my head hitting the d

n a mask of pure rage. "Get out, Brenna! I

ng. "You' re nothing but a curse! A

. This wasn't love. It was obsession, control. And now

ht air was cold, biting. He sped away, leaving me alone in the op

s, my heart feeling as hollow as the abandoned street. Then, a

darkness, their faces obscured by th

of them leered, his voice coarse, dripping

my chest. My injured hand throbbed,

voice trembling, but I tried

predatory sounds. "Looks like so

s greasy fingers brushing m

h me!" I his

s glinting. "Oh, she' s r

f all escape routes. My mind raced, desperate for a plan

ronger now, trying to channel the defiance that had o

ou are, doc. The one who got thrown out by her

must have sent them. Anot

nt?" I demanded

ning, revealing rotten teeth. "And maybe a message for y

Davis, but I wouldn't let them desecrate me in thi

other. Their memory fueled a

go down with

lunged, aiming for the leader' s groin. He grunted in pain,

but I ignored it, pushing my body to its limits. I ran blind, d

dark water in the distanc

houts growing louder, closer. I heard a splas

pths, the shock of the cold water taking my breath aw

water, but still clear enough to se

e water!" one

get away!" ano

nacing. "Get her. And make sure she knows wh

le

wasn' t just Davis. This was Kiley. The woman who h

an it had ever been. This wasn' t just about survival. It

make the