A'S

o, An

one of them called my name. I look between their big, imposing figu

rum. The alley is completely des

pounding like it's tryin

hey know

, raising his hands like that makes

a

talk in all

e that unless they alr

, the other one adds. H

. That's

o

n and

sneakers slipping on the greasy pavement. I scr

OMEBODY

they want – most likely money, I don't have

aming. "He

reet. My vision blurs with tears; rage, heartbreak, they all mix until I can't tell whic

yself, my body shivering in the wind, and my heart pounding like it wants

t first, I think it's a cab, and my heart

the blacked

way it rolls to

ree

ck doo

step out. Black clothes.

from working at Louise's tonight, and I don't think its e

, andrenaline surges through my vein

ared this time. I'm not quick enough, and hands gra

ck, bite, fi

reaming. But I'm much smaller in size, and

em mutters something in Italian I can't und

n the side of my hea

thing

gs gi

hing-low, clipped, urgent."Careful. M

arkness sw

environment. The first thing I notice is the silk sheets, it feels heavenl

gs than waking up tied to a

never hit me but always made me feel like I was two seconds

alive doesn't

this

power. I sit up, and that's when I notice the figure leaning ag

twice the rhythm again,

n D'

o years ago in a back alle

rs call the devil

ounding with something dull and lingering. Drugs, maybe. I can't re

Mic

yes, his betrayal stings so much. An image flashes in my mind

coul

usly, and that's when the

t of espresso laced with poison. Smooth,

rasp, my voice hoa

s breath, then lifts his gaze to mine. Somet

like velvet. "My men sometimes i

s beautiful. Not the soft kind of beautiful.

tanned skin. Black hair combed back. Dark stubble shadows his jaw. His eyes are a piercing steel-gray-emotionless. Every inch of him is controlled, deliberat

s like

o

of man who rules king

am I?

it's worse than if he'd

e ho

s a brow

apped me...and brou

y. "Technically. But let's n

him. "You

s matter-of-fact. Like we

fueled by adrenaline. "I don't know what the hel

reach his eyes w

ke it halfway across the room before the door swings ope

mble

ound me like a noose. "But you won't make it far. You're in the midd

im, chest he

e's memorizing every inch of me. "Because you

aw you kill and didn't tell

reathing in danger and spice. "You saw me. And you didn't run to the police. Yo

of a realization than a question. I know I've had

u smile at strangers. The way you cry in bathrooms because you think no one notices. The way

ath ca

ow you're the kind of girl who fi

You can't ke

aze my jaw, deceptively gentl

. I should scream

om? He murmurs.

can't believe I'm negotiating my freedom with a man

ps hover over mine, not

my w

ds slam

ha

me. T

t, and disbelief. "Why the he

. "Because you're min

Rylan stands there in his impeccable suit like he just s

is the only way out. Play t

't an

ca

r when he says. "Either way, y