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Julian gently hugs me, and I relax in his arms. “You’re going to be okay, kitten,” he says softly. “I promise.”

“I spent four years of my life with him. I tried so hard to be who he wanted me to be so I didn’t have to be alone,” I say quietly.

“You aren’t alone,” Julian says. “We will be here for as long as you want us around.”

“I really do appreciate this,” I say, pulling back to wipe the tears from my face. Calder hugs me next and kisses the top of my head. “Get some sleep. We will have the alarm on. All the windows and doors have sensors and locks, so you’ll be safe up here.”

“Okay,” I sigh. Julian pulls back the covers while I go to one of my bags and find panties and loose shorts. I stare at them, wondering how in the fuck I’ll do this, but Julian takes them from me.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Anytime, kitten. If you need anything at all, all you have to do is ask,” Julian says. I nod, and they get my leggings off before helping me put panties on. “Skip the shorts. You aren’t going to want anything touching those welts for a while.”

“Yeah,” I sigh.

“One of us will come up and change the bandage. Just rest for now. We can bring you anything you need,” Calder tells me as Julian helps me lie down. I groan as I settle into the bed but move to lie on my belly so I don’t have to move again.

“Thank you,” I mutter.

“You’re welcome, Liza. Get some sleep,” Julian says, shutting the light off. When they walk out of the room and shut the door, my phone lights up on the nightstand. I know it’s him, but I still pick it up.

Troy

We should talk.

I don’t want to talk. You hit me. There is nothing to talk about.

I shouldn’t have done that.

You shouldn’t have done anything you did to me, but you still did it. You literally cut me open, Troy. Just leave me alone. You told me to leave, so I’m gone. Have a good life.

Are you with them?

You are, aren’t you? I bet you’ve already let them fuck you.

Fucking whore.

Yes, I am at their house. No, I haven’t fucked anyone. They are my bosses and my friends. I am not a whore.

You went from my bed to theirs. You are a whore.

You told me to leave, so I left. I didn’t want to be homeless, so I am here until I find a place.

I’ve seen the way they look at you.

You should see the way they look at you.

Can we meet up tomorrow and talk? Please?

No.

Come on, baby. Four years. Did that mean nothing to you?

Nope.

Don’t be like that. Please, Eliza? I can’t sleep without you here. I don’t even want to be alive without you.

I don’t want to be alive with you, so… No. Have a good life and stop texting me.