i

, my voice sharp with fury, though

datory smirk. "Came to see my little omega humbled, fi

as I folded my arms across my chest. "You forf

enly. I couldn't afford to let him see the cracks-the

dangerous. His eyes raked over me

pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. "You think you can

ts clenching at my side

His voice dripped with venom. "Like how

efused to give him the s

o the bed. His weight pinned me, his hot breath grazing my ear as he hissed, "What did you th

dn't let it consume me. "Get off me!" I sna

favor by agreeing to marry you," he snapped,

ut I bit down on the inside of

ou dared to rebel." His eyes darkened as they fell to my neck, landing on the fain

fury uncontained. "I own you, Lila. I bought you

his lips onto mine, the vile act

tinct took over. I brought my knee up with

an, his grip loosening as he st

pat, his face twisting i

heavy vase from the nightstand-I swung it with all my m

itate. Blood trickled down his scalp as h

s I checked for a pulse. Relief washed over me when

dess he w

his body. Sheldon wasn't going to let this slide when he woke up. And m

utterl

as dead and I didn't have enough time to put it on charge. My o

om last night clear as if she were standing b

had to run away f

onth

arms. Exhaustion clung to me like a second skin, so I eased down onto the couch, patti

orked nights as a waitress. Babysitting during the day and hustling through chaotic clu

eir influence stretched farther than I could've imagined, forc

ant juggling between work and sleep was grinding me down. Most nights, I barely managed a few hou

slicing through the dim light of the living room. She strode toward me,

urtly. "And you don't ne

like a slap.

ne clipped and final. "Do you t

me out. I just nodded stiffly, g

n't for a few hours, and without the babysitting gig, I had extra time. A part of

ck to the tiny dorm room I'd managed to rent. The streets we

ention. I fished it out, and my heart skippe

ph

e message, excitement and relief flooding me all at once. For a moment, it felt

didn't hear the sound of tires screec

ain, the world spinning wildly be