Brig

kind of place Alexander, with his polished tastes, would have hated. The sticky floor and the

sh glass of whiskey across the bar tow

throat was a welcome distraction from the hollow ache

said softly, wrapping a

r senior year of high school. The melody was a key turning a lock in m

der's face, pale and terrified, leaning over me. He had been following me home, just to make sure I was safe. He' d held my hand in the ambulance, his grip a lifeline, refusi

of choices. He had chosen to love me then. And now, he had

nd I had bought together. The moment I stepped through the door, the scent of his cologne hit

ing room, his arms crossed, a th

" he demanded, his vo

red, kicking

red to my dress, which suddenly felt too

which used to feel like home, now felt like a cage. "You know I don't like

x," I said, trying

y, stepped forward. "Alexander, she's had

without looking at her. He turned his cold

r a slight nod. "It's okay, M. I can h

r's grip tightened. "Are you trying to make me

ng with sarcasm. "The fact that you think you have any right to be angry at a

, a crash echoed from

shing in an instant. He shoved me aside so hard I stumbled

en weight in my chest. I al

d glass. A small trickle of blood ran down her finger. She looked up

e?" I demanded, my voice shaki

. "She was just released from the wellness center. She has

bing at her finger with his handker

my mother's crystal music box, the last thing she gave me befo

left m

er eyes held a triumphant glint. "It was an acci

of my mother's hands placing it in mine, her voice f

nged forward and slapped her, the

my house!"

Alexander was on his feet. He grabbed me, pu

, Avery! Look at what you did! It' s always about you, isn' t it? The spoiled l

er bathroom, his fingers digging into my arm. He s

hing my hair, my dress, my skin. I gasp

ith a fury I had never seen directed at me before. "You need t

ing and soaked in the dark. The sound of the lock cl

uring softly to Kiara, his voice laced

w, he wouldn't even give me a world where I was safe in my own home. The cold wasn't just in the water; it was seeping i