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“Just where the hell do you think you’re going?”

The pure anger in Jude’s tone chills me. Is this where he puts his hands on me? Tries to drive my head through the fucking wall? Rape and record me to humiliate me with later? Hot tears spill down my cheeks and a wretched sob escapes.

Why?

Why did he have to be just like him?

“Tate,” Jude says, voice much softer. “Don’t go, sweet boy.”

Sweet boy.

I hate that some part of me still trembles with pleasure at his words. It infuriates me that I’m so drawn to these horrible men who are terrible for me. Harnessing that anger and chasing away the hurt, I whirl around to face him.

“You did this,” I hiss as I swipe away my tears. “Why did you have to do this?”

Jude growls behind his mask. “I didn’t vandalize your car. I wouldn’t.”

A disgusted laugh barks out of me. “No. What you did was awful all on its own. You spied on me.”

He doesn’t respond. Just stares at me through his mask. Ugh.

“My phone?” I spit out, gesturing at my suitcase. “That’s why you were in my room that night.”

Again, no words leave his mouth. Asshole.

“Well, you fucked up, Jude. You turned it on, hacked into it, and God only knows what else. And you know what? It told him exactly where I was.” I sneer at him, stabbing another finger in the air. “You’re just like him. A fucking stalker!”

He snaps out of his frozen state and charges for me. I attempt to hold my ground but end up flinching in fear, waiting for the blow. It doesn’t come. The weirdo just towers over me, glaring through his mask.

“Who?” he demands.

“My ex!” I cry out, throwing my hands in the air. “You going to break my arm? Chain me to the bed? Make a fucking snuff tape to send to my next employers? Get a ticket and stand in line!”

“I would never hurt you.” His palm cradles my cheek and I almost believe him.

“Yeah, he said that too. That’s kind of a pattern for big, scary guys like you and him.” I shove at his chest, but the oaf doesn’t budge. “Besides, you already did hurt me. You betrayed my trust and led the monster right to my doorstep.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Jude growls, planting his large hands on my shoulders. “I’ll keep you safe.”

My lip trembles and another pained sob escapes. I hate that I’m crying. I hate how broken I feel right now. Stupid me let my guard down and allowed people into my heart. Never again.

“It’s too late, Jude. What’s done is done.” I glower up at him. “Now let me go. I’m leaving.”

He slowly shakes his head in disagreement. Is he for real right now? Am I about to be in the middle of a damn stalker war?

You brought this on yourself, kid.

I hate that Dad’s slurring voice is the one I hear inside my head. Every time he drank and threw me into a wall or rammed his fists into me, it was somehow my fault. I egged Dad on. I provoked him. I pushed and pushed and pushed him until he snapped. It was always the same warning before the pain would come.You brought this on yourself, kid.

“Jude,” Violet murmurs from the doorway. “The police are here and they want to speak to Tate.”

Jude’s eyes burn into me, warning me of more to come later. Joke’s on him. I’m going to hightail it the hell out of here the second I get done talking to the cops.

I’ll disappear once and for all.

Start over in some Podunk town in the middle of nowhere.

I will have a life I’m in control of. One that doesn’t continuously hurt in all the ways. I’m done being a plaything for monsters to toy with.