hrough my conscience long

om a crooked pharmacist who didn't care why a girl like me, with hollow eyes and a shaking voice, would ne

escape. Kendrick had taken everything from me. My freedom. My choic

Assam tea, with no sugar, no milk, steeped dark and

house itself was holding its breath. My hands shook only once, when I reached for th

t, silen

en a flicker of suspicion. He was reading something on his tablet, dressed in a charcoal robe that clung to his

red, placing the cup gent

wly, eyes narrow

e it in the way his fingers cur

ere," h

ingers reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my face,

" he asked, voice smoo

Sir,"

take a

h caught

is gaze hardeni

e. My heart plummeted to my sto

p so abruptly that the chair screeched again

rabbed my wrist. His gri

not t

thing between a smirk and

against the wall. Glass shattered. Tea

dragging me by the wrist toward the do

, Kendrick

, AND I'LL CARVE

thunder. My

driver didn't flinch when Kendrick barked, "Lake h

he didn't say a word. Just stared out the window, jaw clenched, his thigh brushing mine wi

in silence and secrets-he dragged me out of the car and i

turned

ice low, shaking. "Food. Shelter. Pr

hey were betrayed. And that ma

I whispered. "You

e. And if you ever try to take mine again... I

dragged me into the main room-walls lined with wind

the wall. I hadn't noticed the

ocked them in place, the col

e..." I sobbed,

t slowly. Not sensually. This was

ed to the floor

my back. I whimpered when I felt h

n?" he hissed in my ear.

unyielding, parting me forcefully. I gasp

n't-pl

t seeking to please but to claim. To remin

ed me, it was

rattled as I pulled against them, but there was no escape. His rhythm was brutal

growled, his voice broken with rag

ied. "I won't do

o l

ed to gasps, my body trembling under his. He didn't stop. Not when I begged. Not when I scr

into me so hard it felt like he w

not

le

oke up next, the light was harsh and ste

re. My body felt like it had been bro

o sit up, but a sof

ove too

Pale. Afraid t

o chains. But the fear hadn't

ust healing. Unt

knew h

ale didn't let go