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“You’re not fine. And you know what? Neither am I. I’m not fucking fine at all.”

His hand trembles as he brushes a strand of hair behind my ear.

The man who’s borne so much strength, a pillar of stone despite the ruthless attempts made to knock him down. But the thing is, stone still crumbles. It still breaks and chips and cracks. Even when it’s left standing, there will always be missing pieces.

Here he stands before me, crumbling as we speak.

“I dream of all the ways I will make them suffer,” he whispers. “I dream of their blood on my hands—between my teeth. I will kill every last one of them for you, little mouse, and I will fucking rejoice in it.”

I stare up at him, my lip trembling as I force myself to keep the emotions down. At first, I felt everything while trapped in that house. And then, I felt nothing.

And now, I’m left with a pile of broken pieces in my hands where my heart is supposed to be, and I don’t know how to mend it without cutting myself deeper.

"I don't need you, Zade. I don’t need you to do anything for me."

He clutches the back of my neck and pulls me in. "See, that's what we're not going to do, Adeline," he barks, baring his teeth. "We're not going to act like you're so tough that you don't need me anymore. Because you want to know something, baby? There are very few men in this world capable of killing me. And I fucking need you. Do you understand me?"

I grit my teeth, refusing to answer.

"Do you think needing me somehow makes you weak?"

"Doesn't it?" I snap.

"No, baby, it makes you strong.” He bends down, putting his face directly into mine. "I may own every breath in your body, but make no mistake, Adeline, you own mine, too. I am yours to command. To bend and break. To mold and manipulate. Do you think that makes me weak? Or do you think I'm strong enough to admit that even though my body can physically live on without you, I would never get my fucking soul back?”

His hand slides into my hair and fists the strands tightly.

"Without you, I will shatter. But with you, I am indestructible."

I suck in a sharp breath and clench my jaw against the different reactions circulating inside me.

But the most prominent—the worst one—is to do everything in my power to get this man away from me.

My skin bristles beneath his electric touch. Those sparks that used to feel so divine now feel like spikes cutting through my flesh.

“Every single man that laid eyes on you while in that house will die slow fucking deaths. I’ve killed so many already… and it’s still not enough.”

He pulls me into him, and I tense as he wraps himself around me.

So many men have done the same. Sweat soaking my skin as they take my body, their skin sliding against my own. Sliding inside of me. Over me. Around me.

How can he feel like home, feel so safe, yet make me feel like I’m being buried alive?

His lips whisper across my cheekbone, and panic sparks. My breath falls shorter, and my lungs constrict as his other hand reaches up to touch me. I tremble as memories flash through my eyes. Faces, so many faces. Smiling at me as they take from me.

Whispering filthy words from their fucking rotten mouths.

Such a pretty girl.

You’re going to look so good with those lips wrapped around my cock.

Fuck, I could come from just touching you.

These tits are perfect, how much did you pay for these?

I can’t control myself. I need you now.

I can’t control myself.