air bit at my skin. But I didn't care.

my vision as I

a'am?" the d

e," I whispered i

he car sped off, leaving the li

about everything but amidst the heartbr

dignity. But they hadn't broke

a modest hotel in a town I barely recognized. I reached into my ba

t, miss. I can tell

inked back the next roun

was eerily quiet, save for the occasional chirp of a distant bird. I wasn't sure if I

was really running away from the home I had known all

plan. No

ching need to be anywh

t desk gave me a tired sm

d that my voice was still shaky, hence betrayin

way to the elevator even as my m

? To bury myself in this tiny town f

ouldn't go back to the family that had stabbe

w. Not

ection in the mirrored walls. The woman staring back at me

time that night, I allowed myself to real

on over my tired body, and left the room. I wasn't sure where I was going as I went to the ele

imly lit and had multiple lights over it. I didn't even p

a raised eyebrow and that only fi

arse from the excessive crying I

id questions, I downed the drink in one go. The burn in my throat was a w

dy through a bottle and wanted another; I jus

e in my chest. It was the only thing tha

one with the second bottle when I suddenly felt a shift inside me. It

eard his voice. I had never heard such a voice before. It was a low, smooth, rich as whiskey voi

en even as I felt annoyed at ho

And my world shook as if I w

first thought that came to my m

as broad-shouldered and had full dark hair that was sli

ok and his eyes...God, his coffee dark eyes felt far too intense for someone I'd just met. They were st

ile even as my lips felt a little too h

ng one. "Guess I'm not the only

voice, I snorted. "Yeah, well. My demons ha

e myself. Then he said in that sinful voice of his