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“No, you’re letting her think she has an out. And she doesn’t. If this gets out, you're done. I won’t be able to protect you.”

“This isn’t going to get out, because it’s going to be resolved by Friday,” he hisses.

“You’ll take care of it?”

“Yes, Luca. I’ll take care of it. Now can you please fuck off? It’s the middle of the day, and she’s upstairs.”

“I’ll help clean up the mess. Give me a call when you’re ready.”

I hear a grunt and sharp smack of wood hitting wood, which I have a strong suspicion is the basement window. Could someone really fit through there?

My heart sinks into my stomach, and I have a strong sense that I may just vomit again. I’m such an idiot. Of course he’s going to kill me. The mess will be my body. Danny’s never going to know what happened to me because his psycho boss will dispose of my body, so he’ll never find it.

I chew my nail, feeling so fucking pissed off. To think I liked him. Have I got such awful taste in men? Travis is one thing; I didn’t know who he was when we first met. But surely I’m not stupid enough to be duped by someone I knew was badwhen I met him.

I’m not one to sit on things. In fact, I’d rather get this over with. I shoot a quick text to Danny, letting him know I love him. I try to keep it casual, but really, what can I say?

I move down the stairs quickly, and I hear him scramble for the chains. When I reach the bottom step, I see him holding them in front of him with a small metal stick in one hand. He’s not trying to get loose...He’s trying to lock himself back up.

“Olivia . . .”

His eyes dart between me, the window, and then down to the chains in his hands. He looks at them like he’s holding a pile of snakes that might bite him at any moment.

I thought I’d still have some semblance of control here. But no. He’s free to pounce as soon as he’s ready. He swallows hard, and I watch his throat roll. Panic laces his eyes as his mouth grimaces. Maybe he feels bad about what he has to do next.

“I heard you talking to your friend,” I mutter, glancing down at the chains in his hands.

“Loose word for what I think of him right now.”

“You’re going to kill me,” I whisper.

“No.” He shakes his head, his eyes imploring.

If I’d been a weaker woman, I would have believed him. I don’t let him finish. “Let go of the chains, Austin.”

“Olivia, let me expl—”

“Let. Go. Of the chains.”

He drops them to his feet. His eyes pierce mine, boring into me, penetrating my mind and body. His body is perfectly still; he somehow seems even bigger now. Like the chains have constricted him these last five days. Finally, he can stretch, righting himself to his full height. He keeps his hands folded in front of his stomach, as if he’s about to kneel and pray. But I know the man that’s inside. I heard it only a few minutes ago. He can flip at any moment and I can’t be here when that happens. Despite his stillness, I can feel my heart pressing so hard against my chest I might just break a bone. My chest isheaving, my shoulders moving to allow more room for the oxygen I can’t seem to get in. And for the first time in my life, after fighting for everything I have for so long, for everything Danny has, I run.

I spin on my heel, grab the wooden banister, and take the stairs two at a time.

“OLIVIA!” Austin bellows.

He’s quick to chase, but he doesn’t know my house.

I reach the top of the landing and slam the door shut. I don’t try to turn and lock it because I can feel him a breath away from me. I keep going. Running through the hallway, I reach the living room. I find the drawer I’m looking for, pull it open, and grab the taser.

He’s quick on my tail. Seemingly knowing the layout of my house—maybe his friend has let him know.

“Olivia, just listen to me for one second!”

I turn, and he’s only a couple of yards in front of me. He holds his hands up, his bare chest finally showing some signs of exertion from the chase. He breathes in deeply, holds one palm up, and says, “Give me the taser, and then I can explain everything.”

“I’m not fucking stupid, despite what you and your friend think. I know...I know you’re going to kill me. And it’s no more than I deserve for what I’ve done. But I...I just thought...”

“Thought what, baby?” His voice is soft. This is the Austin I’ve grown to know. The lie I’m so eager to believe.