attled downward. Her entire body trembled, every nerve scre

palms were slick with sweat. Above her head, the fluorescent lights

chance. Don't stop

lieve it, even when terr

slammed into her like a slap to the face. Rows of Damon's luxury cars stretche

't care abou

ching for on

ee

stepped out. Every echo of distant dripping water felt li

k back. K

d taste the air outside. Taste freedom. Her heart pounded, her breath shall

ep. An

felt like

h

vo

d. Unmis

mm

her froze, even as her heart

No n

elf to turn. Sl

ression carved from stone. His black suit was perfect.

athe. Could bare

did

ways

enough to make Emma stumble back. Her legs tr

idn't rise. He didn't have to. Every s

your pr

n them. But it wasn't si

he sa

ly. F

ou're

back as if he

red the fragile hope she'd clung to. S

voice broke. "I can't keep living like

Not cruel. Not gentle. Just stating a fact that

t she forced herself

me

s jaw tightened. Something unre

old. D

her up

ntire bo

cracked. "Damon,

il they were already beside h

n't-please! Just l

y against the concrete. He

her feet scrambled uselessly against the floor. Her so

ease don't do

ill. Watching.

atching his p

ck at him. On

n't lo

ke her more

ike she was nothing. She collapsed to her knees,

cked behind

th

le

he wasn'

was

t inside, st

ad changed. It wasn't co

as w

pt

g inside him

r enemy," he

was hollow. Bitter. Br

flin

r now. Less controlled. He stepped toward her s

to save

got yourse

ion and fury warred in her min

ple waiting," D

ce cracked. "

th anger. With fear. "Do you think I'm keeping you here

what to thin

ou make. Every step you take outsid

e was shrill wi

le

hitched. She

en she

ime, Damon Reev

ing," she

oice was hollow.

her face. "You called me the bait." Her voice

said n

somet

u what you're no

ecause I can't survive like this. I can't keep waking up

lowly this time. More li

ice broke. Just slightly. "Do you th

her heart shatteri

can

hy

le

ce brok

swered, it was so sof

now who the real t

d, not und

you talk

, his control-all of it faded. He looked at

voice caug

hit her li

knees b

t speak. Co

him, uncompreh

t under

s were jagged. To

is city. I buried her n

red everything. S

e," Damon continued, his voice a rag

ook vio

u. But now... I can't te

le

rifying

n said what s

ct you outside

, shaking, her voi

ate

losed h

kno

he left h

the cold m

ly now. Not from rage

tion that she wasn't just tr

rapped in

even him-coul