Ten months of sin

slid the last chair beneath the table, wiped her tired hands on her apron, and reached for the café keys. She had been working since morning, and her bones ached wit

and stepped outside; locking up behind her. The night air was sharp, tasting faintly of rain. She glanced down the street, expecting the usual emptiness, but the

. " Who are you?" the words flew out of her mouth.Panic flared in her chest, and her first instinct was to run-but her body wouldn't move. She looked around for anyone while slowl

w him...Micheal

e to walk her home. Maybe this was all a mistake. But then she saw it-the papers in his hands. The same papers he had once pressed into hers with

omach

o her like a knife to the gut:

l!!!" hoping it wasn't what she thought it was, but he didn't fli

ession was unreadable-almo

id anger. She twisted, kicked, clawed, even bit one on the wrist... but they didn't flinch

ing." Her blo

ain, to do anything-but he only adjusted his cuffs and gave the sl

a loan. She'd sign

WEEK

l paper bag of biscuits, bottled juice, and a bar of cheap soap as the guard marched her down the corridor. Eve

eary loved ones, voices muffled behind scratched glass and the faint buzz of

of her cheekbones seemed harsher, her brown eyes darker. But when those eyes caught Emily's, they l

gentle smile, tryi

said, picking up th

air opposite her and lifted th

see through her... how much she is hurting a

dabbed it with my sleeve. I can't let her see me lik

you getting enough sleep?" She looked at me, t

s, you'll collapse before you even g

doing to you in here...Just a few more weeks and I'll have the money for the last installment. The lawyer promised

. i miss you too... but please,don't do this to yourself. You're twenty-f

n't deserve prison, Lili. You defended yourself. You survived him. I can

ut she steadied it w

can't and will not stop until I get my

ars, but her voice stayed steady. "You sound just like Mama. Always burn

she didn't love me enough to stay.. and I think it's for the best. But, sometimes, I fi

glass bit into my skin. "I'll think of my

avy, stretching between them lik

ad and smirked. "Tell me-does Micheal know you w

thrown off ba

day, the cleaning job at night, the tutoring on weekends... You never stop. An

ou make it sound like I'm juggling a dozen lovers. Mich

Because I've been here six years, Emi, and

she almost believed it. "He doesn't like places like this. He says it

will walk through fire if it means standing beside

It's not like that. He works, too. Long h

ung to them, weaving the lie like

years," Lilith pressed. "Four y

romise." I knew that was a lie, but I love Michael... he is the only thing keeping me sane

er smirk fading into something softer,

"He's... he's all I have left outside of you. He ma

ant is for you not to get hurt... I know you won't understand what I am saying, but ju

u sound like an old woman... I promise... Michael loves me" I said,feeling my

ilith said quietly.

e distant sound of another visitor sobbin

breaking, "I'll get you out. I

hand against the glass once more. "I know you

again, the cold barrier between them a crue

e," Emily said softly, almos

ut the sadness in her

arm. " Visiting time is over," the guard said. She jacked

Stopping them in their tracks. " What's that? Your arm is bleeding... what did t

male guard. Emily's eyes were filled with rage. She grabbed her things an

. Her knees hit the ground, and before she could stop herself, she screamed-loud, broken, desperate. The sound cracked thr

fth of September... I Emily Jacobs will get you out of

within her she knew her life meant nothing and she was rea

wasn't

lack suit, flanked by two silent bodyguards. His gray eyes locked onto her like a hunter finding prey. He had just ste

at her, observing, analysi

his voice deep, smooth, and merciless. "Do you do thi

t her grief. "Excuse me?" she wiped her tears

t. Screaming like the world owes you something." His eyes flicked over her with sharp

Who the hell do you think you are? ," she snapp

sed. "I know weakness when I see

cing her voice steady. She stepped closer to him, looking a

d shameless. "And you would

of them could name. Finally, Emily shook her head in disgust. "

ghtly, then returned, darke

ow a man like you or have anythi

him the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of her . She tu

ssly as the fire in his smirk deepened. His gaze

th, the corner of his mouth curving. "I'll remember