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A full-bodied tremble ripples through me. Dizziness from the blow to the head keeps passing over in waves and my skull is throbbing.

What’s he going to do?

I test my restraints and am not surprised to discover I’m not going to escape them anytime soon.

“Sean,” I croak out. “Please. Just let me go.”

His chuckle, something I once thought warm and infectious, chills me to my bones. “Never, Tate. I thought I made that abundantly clear. You’re mine. My necessary outlet for my mundane life. Most men have a man cave to retreat to. I have you. My secret little fuck toy.”

I shudder when he squeezes my ass cheek and grit out, “I’m not yours anymore.”

“Why? Because you’re fucking Jude?” He scoffs from behind me. “How did you manage that anyway? Turning Jude gay?”

He speaks of him as if he knows him. “What are you talking about?”

Sean rounds the table until he comes into view. He dips down to meet my gaze. Normally, that penetrating stare of his would make me shrivel up inside. For some reason, today, I’m angry. So angry that if I could get my hands free, I might actually be able to hurt him for once.

“Oh,” Sean says gleefully. “Believe me, when I found out my little fuck toy was playing house with my ex-best friend, I was shocked stupid.”

“Your what?”

He leans forward to stroke the hair out of my eyes and smirks. “Small world, right? Me and Jude go way back, all the way to when he was fucking normal and spent all his time with me.”

I yank at my restraints, but all I end up doing is rubbing the skin raw where the rope digs into me. Finally, I let out a frustrated huff and glower at Sean. I’m in no position to taunt him, but my pleading tactics don’t work. He’s clearly bitter about Jude. I can play into that.

“Jude’s in love with me,” I tell him in a cool tone. He may not be in love with me yet, but we’re on the fast track of getting there. “He has money and means. It’s only a matter of time before he shows up and makes a fool out of you. The cops, along with your wife and everyone in this town, will know what a sadistic freak you are.” That I do believe a hundred percent.

He barks out a cruel laugh. “Jude won’t leave the house. I’ve done my homework. The fire fucked him up and he’s afraid for the world to see him. He’s not coming.”

Last time I was in a position like this with Sean, I went along with his sadism, begging for the terrible things he wanted to do to me in an effort to get it over with quicker. He’d filmed me and used that footage against me to keep me unemployed. Sean had his thumb over me because I was afraid of him.

So why am I not so afraid now?

Because you’re changing and growing, Tate. People value your advice, your friendship, and your companionship. You’re a friend and a giving lover. There’s a life with the Park family you’re destined to be a part of. This nightmare with Sean ends now.

“He’ll come,” I tell him with confidence. “And if it’s not him, it’ll be the police or his dad or brothers. No matter what, he’s not going to let you just steal me away. Your days of ruining my life are over. It’s time to ruin yours.”

His body tenses and then he walks out of my line of vision. My heart rate is thundering in my chest as I prepare for pain. What he won’t get from me—not anymore—is fear and defeat.

I’m not giving up.

Not on me or Jude.

“You can’t ruin my life,” Sean grits out. “No one will believe you.”

“You’ve fucked with the wrong family, man,” I toss back, voice even and steady. “You trespassed, terrorized Callum’s woman, and have kidnapped Jude’s boyfriend. You know Jude and that family. Are they really going to sit back and let you do this to them? To me? I’m one of them now.”

I believe that.

Every single one of the people in that family has welcomed me. They care about me more than just an outsider to confide in and seek therapy with. I’m a bright spot in their world just as they’ve done the same for me.

I belong.

I never knew what a found family meant, but now I get it.

Jude made it abundantly clear that he protects his family at all costs. It’s his number one mission in life. Sean won’t get away with his cruelties this time.

“You’ve really made a mess of your life,” I continue, venom dripping from my words. “You’re letting down your wife and children. For what? To have the chance to humiliate me? To get your rocks off by raping the small guy you picked up at the gym? You’re pathetic, Sean. Truly fucking pathetic.”