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“Shut up!” he roars, ramming his fist through the drywall. “Shut up or I’ll stuff your mouth so you can’t speak!”

Angering him is dangerous, but it’s my only move at this point. I’m trapped and at his mercy either way. Lying here and taking it won’t do anything but further traumatize me for years to come. Fighting back, even if just with my words, I feel as though I’m doing something.

I’m stronger than I was the last time I was with him.

Knowing I’ve been doing some growing too while with the Parks fills my heart despite being in such a harrowing predicament. At least if I’m going down by Sean’s hand, I’ll do so with dignity.

“Make your videos, Sean,” I continue to taunt, squirming against the restraints. “But rest assured, I’ll make sure everyone in this town knows you’re a rapist. These fear tactics won’t work anymore!”

He makes a hideous growling sound before storming into the living room. I crane my neck to keep him in my sight. When he picks up an ax from the floor, all the blood drains from my body.

Okay, so maybe provoking him was a terrible idea.

With long, purposeful strides, he storms over to me, raising his ax in the air. I scream when he slams it down into the end of the table just inches from my face. The wood splits beneath me but doesn’t fully collapse.

Was he aiming for my head?

Did he miss?

Tears of horror blur my vision. So much for being brave. He’s not going to rape me. He’s going to murder me. Chop me up into pieces like he did my couch.

Please, God, let it go quickly.

I don’t want to lose limbs, feel every bit of the excruciating pain until I bleed out and die slowly.

“Y-You’ll kill me, but t-this won’t go away,” I croak out, teeth chattering with fear. “They’ll all know w-what a monster y-you are!”

The blunt end of something wooden—probably the other end of the ax—probes at my ass. I clench my cheeks together because I do not want whatever he plans to do with that thing. He digs his brutal, fat fingers into my crack, clawing one cheek aside. The press of the wood handle against my hole makes me howl, my whole body writhing as much as I can in an effort to escape.

That thing is too big!

It’ll rip me in two!

“Stay away from me you psychopath!”

Something crashes from the living room. I want to look at what it is, but not with Sean trying to sodomize me with an ax handle. Thankfully, he pulls it away and snarls at the intruder.

The intruder?

My heart skyrockets into my throat as I focus my teary eyes on the person stalking into the room like an avenging angel. The man is huge—like Sean—but rippling with an unearthly power that makes me cry out with hope. His face is familiar. Same dark hair. Same blue eyes.

Callum?

No, wait, Hugo?

It’s not Callum or Hugo. It’s an angel. The most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. This man’s face is perfect, unmarred, and stunning. I’m mesmerized by the sight. All he’s missing are the wings and a giant, fiery sword.

The electric blue eyes land on me and they practically glow with relief.

He’s come to save me.

Jude.MyJude.

My shockingly and confusingly handsomeJude.

“So youdohave time for that beer—” Sean taunts but is cut off when Jude launches himself at him.

The two of them crash into the table and then disappear out of sight onto the floor. Cracking and splattering can be heard as fists meet tender flesh.