Page 12

Haven

I’m a coward.

Guilt pangs in my chest as I run through Birchwood’s streets. Even though I know there’s nothing I could’ve done, leaving Aaron with Colton, Lucas, and Xander feels wrong.

But I don’t turn back. He kept them distracted so I could slip out unnoticed. I’m not going to let his efforts go to waste, no matter how awful I feel for leaving him beaten and bloody on the basement floor. Hopefully, his injuries aren’t as bad as they look.

My boots pound against the sidewalk. Even though I’m out of breath and my heart is beating so fast I’m worried it’ll give out, I push myself to keep running. I’m not sure how much of a head start I really have. It could’ve taken them two seconds to realize I was gone or two minutes.

As Pemberton’s campus comes into view, I risk a glance behind me. So far, it doesn’t look like anyone is following me.

Again, I check my phone, ignoring a missed call from Julie for now. I found that masked guy Athelia was hanging out with at the party, but he said she fucked off a few minutes after I left her, and he hadn’t seen her since. My hope is that she decided to go back to our dorm, but that doesn’t explain why she isn’t answering my calls or texts.

I hope she’s okay.

When I finally get back to our dorm, I throw open the door. It’s dark inside, and my heart sinks.

“Athelia?” I call out.

The door behind me opens, and I spin around. One of the girls who lives across the hall is standing in a pink pajama set, a green face mask covering her skin. Marie, I think.

“Hey, some guy was looking for you. He left a couple minutes ago.”

“Was it Colton Heverly?”

She frowns. “What? No. I don’t think the guy was a student. He looked like he was in his late early thirties? Honestly, I’m confused how he got in here without a key card.”

What? Who the hell could that have been?

“What did he look like?” I ask.

“Ummm. Blond hair, blue eyes? Kinda tall, acted a little weird. Oh, and he called you Heaven, which I thought was strange.”

Fear grips my chest and squeezes tightly, which makes it even harder to catch my breath. It can’t be. No, no, no.

“Didn’t think your name was that hard to pronounce,” Marie says, laughing.

“Happens more often than you think,” I say weakly. “Do you know if he left through the front?”

Fuck. I didn’t see him on the way in, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t see me. Although… it’s been years since we were last together. With my dyed hair, my clothes, and my makeup, it’s possible he could look me straight in the eyes and not even recognize me.

“I don’t know, I’m sorry,” Marie says.

“Okay, thanks.”

In desperation, I check my phone one last time, and my knees almost buckle with relief when I see Athelia’s name on my screen.

Athelia: Hey, sorry I worried you. I ended up leaving with a guy and couldn’t find you to let you know. It’s my bad, I should’ve texted you.

Haven: OH THANK GOD

Haven: I was SO worried

Haven: Tell me about it tomorrow?

Athelia: Sounds great!

I shove my phone into my pocket with a sigh of relief. If she went home with a guy, that means she won’t be coming here tonight, which means Isaiah won’t hurt her.

As for me…

I can’t stay here. Not if Isaiah knows this is my dorm, which he obviously does. I glance the way I came, and then down the hallway the other way. Should I take the side door? What if that’s what he did? What if he’s outside, watching, waiting for me to show up?

Oh god. Oh my god. What if I actually did see him in the library earlier?

“Hey, are you okay? You look really pale.”

“Fine. I’m fine. I just… I have to go.”

Marie calls after me, but I’m already stumbling down the hallway. My legs burn, my lungs ache, and my head is pounding, but I don’t stop. Running from Colton just turned into literally running for my life.

I opt for the side door, figuring that if Isaiah is watching, he’ll pick the entrance that gets used the most. I burst onto the sidewalk and immediately crash into someone else.

“Sorry,” he blurts, and that voice—I’d recognize that voice anywhere.

Oh no.

I was wrong.

Before Isaiah can see my face, I scramble back through the still-open door and shove it closed. Just as it latches, I make eye contact with Isaiah through the window. He looks confused, and I realize with relief that he doesn’t recognize me.

I back away, running through my limited options of escape. I know I need to turn around and hide my face from him, but I can’t stop staring at him. He looks older, angrier. His body has filled out, his muscles larger than I remember them being.

My stomach sinks. I already couldn’t defend myself against him. It’ll be even worse now.

Isaiah watches me with narrowed eyes, and just when I think I’m in the clear, his lips part in shock.

Oh, no. No, no, no.

“Heaven?” he asks in disbelief. “What on earth are you wearing?”

I stumble backward. He tries to open the door, but it doesn’t give. My initial worry that he got his hands on a student key card dissolves, but it only helps for a moment. Because somehow, he still got in, which means someone let him in.

“Heaven, it’s time to come home,” he says calmly, but I don’t miss the thinly veiled rage he thinks he’s hiding.

I never miss it.

Slowly, I shake my head, moving farther away from my husband.

“Open the door,” he shouts, trying to jerk it open, but the lock holds.

Have to run. Have to get out of here.

“If you don’t, I’ll hurt Julie.”

I freeze. What?

“Oh, you think I didn’t put the pieces together? You’re not the only smart one in our family, sweetheart,” he spits out.

Oh, god. Of course. How else would Isaiah have tracked me here? He always hated how often I talked to her. It may have taken him a while, but he must’ve realized she’s the one who helped me escape.

“Took you long enough,” I fire back.

“I know where she lives,” he threatens, completely ignoring my insult. “If you don’t come with me, I’ll kill her.”

“You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not. That’s your specialty.”

“You wouldn’t murder someone. It’s a sin.”

“Not when it’s for a righteous cause.”

My stomach lurches. He means me. To him, bringing me back to Cornerstone is somehow a justification for killing someone.

Without another thought, I turn on the balls of my feet and run. I can get to the other side of the building faster than Isaiah will be able to, and then I can get lost in the woods across the parking lot.

Halfway down the hallway, I glance back. Just as I predicted, Isaiah is already gone, racing around the building to be there when I try to sneak out the other side entrance.

I skid to a halt, a new plan forming in my mind. Isaiah is taller than I am and so much faster. If I make it to the other side, I’ll have maybe thirty seconds before he spots me. But if I double back…

Spinning around again, I run back the way I came while pulling out my phone. My hands are shaking so badly that it takes me two tries to unlock my phone. I have another missed call from Julie, and I jab the button to call her back.

I burst onto the sidewalk and immediately duck into the shadow of a nearby tree. While my phone rings, I glance around, looking for Isaiah and coming up empty.

Thank god.

I know I’m not safe—know I have to keep moving—but at least for the moment, I’ve lost him. Now, I just have to get out of here and go…

Where the hell am I going to go?

A wave of regret hits me as I realize that, once upon a time, I would’ve called Colton in a situation like this. He would’ve swooped in and fixed everything in a matter of minutes, not caring who he destroyed to make sure I was okay.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. This isn’t the time to think about that.

“Honey?” Julie’s voice sounds panicked as it comes through my phone. “Honey, are you okay?”

“He—he—he’s here. Julie, he—” I sob, barely managing to stifle it with my hand.

Quiet. I have to stay quiet, or he’ll find me.

“I know. He stopped by the house about an hour ago.”

“Did he hurt you?” I whisper, terrified the answer is yes. Terrified I got Julie and Ben caught up in something that will only cause them harm.

“No, he was surprisingly kind. He asked if I knew where you were.”

“He’s not kind.” I creep from oak tree to oak tree, moving farther away from the dorm hall. “He’s going to hurt me.”

“We’re not going to let that happen.”

“Can we call the police?” I ask shakily.

“I already tried. They won’t do anything until Isaiah actually shows himself to be a threat. He has a right to travel and exist in public.”

“But he’s going to kidnap me. He’s going to take me back.”

“We’re not going to let that happen,” she repeats, more firmly this time. “Now, where are you? Ben can pick you up and get you out of town until Isaiah leaves. We can—”

“No! I’m not leaving. I won’t let him force me out.”

There’s talk in the background, and I think I hear Ben saying, “… slurring her words. Is she drunk?”

Then Julie is talking again. “Haven, are you drunk?”

“N-no.” It’s an automatic response, and I squeeze my eyes shut, internally scolding myself. “Yes.”

“Okay. You need to let us help you.”

“He’ll hurt you,” I whisper.

“No, he won’t.”

“He said he would,” I sob.

“What? You talked to him?”

“I managed to get away, but I have to go, or he’ll find me soon. But—but Julie, I need you to leave town. He said if I didn’t come with him, he’d hurt you.”

“Ben won’t let that happen.”

“You’re gonna leave?”

“I don’t think we need to,” she tells me gently. “He’s just one man.”

“But what if he isn’t? What if he brought my brothers, or some of the other men from Cornerstone? They—they could hurt you.”

Ben hums in the way he does when he’s thinking hard. “Do you have any reason to believe he’s not alone?”

“We were never supposed to go out into the world without someone else,” I say quietly.

“Never?” he asks, surprised.

“It was to keep each other from stumbling. We held each other accountable.”

“Right,” he grumbles. “Of course they’d have a rule like that.”

“And don’t they have lots of guns now?” I ask, doing my best to hold back another sob of fear. “Isn’t that what you said, Julie?”

I can’t remember the details right now, but the last time she went down to Cornerstone to attend a service, the cult had closed themselves off from the public. They’d built a wall around the compound, and men with guns guarded the gate.

Julie sighs. “It is, but—”

“But we have guns,” Ben says firmly, “and I’m not afraid to use them.”

“We can keep you safe, honey,” Julie adds. “You just need to let us come get you.”

“Just tell me where you are,” Ben says. “If Isaiah wants you, he’ll have to get through me, first.”

“But that’s the problem,” I whisper.

If I’m with Julie and Ben, Isaiah won’t stop at anything to get to me. No matter how long it takes, he will get through Ben, and the aftermath will be devastating.

I can’t do that.

“I’m not putting you in extra danger,” I say, hating how my voice wobbles.

“You won’t be. We can defend ourselves and you. Let us help you, Haven,” Julie pleads.

“I have a place I can go,” I lie. “I—I’ll lay low for a while, until he leaves.”

Vaguely, I’m aware that I’m probably not thinking straight, but I can’t trust that. Can’t trust anything. All I know is I have to stay away from Julie.

“Honey, please don’t do thi—”

“I’ve got it. Don’t worry about me, all right? I’ll be fine.”

“Haven—”

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I love you both.”

Julie and Ben start protesting again, but I’m already ending the call and shoving my phone back into my skirt pocket. I have to get off campus. From there, I don’t know what I’ll do. Go back to the party, maybe?

A crowd to get lost in, rooms to hide in, people to help if Isaiah finds me—I think it’s the safest option for now. Once I’m there, I’ll come up with a better plan for the night.

Peeking around the tree, I scan the area for Isaiah. It looks clear, but he could be hiding anywhere. Or he could be about to round the dorm hall and find me.

I can’t stay here. The campus walkways and roads are lit up with street lamps, but if I dodge the pathways and cut through lawns and around parking lots, I can avoid being seen.

My feet want to stay rooted to the ground, but I force myself to move. I sprint to the closest tree and plaster my body to it, praying desperately that wherever Isaiah is, he didn’t see me. When the coast seems clear, I move to the next tree, and then the next.

I make it a good fifty yards before I hear Isaiah calling for me. His voice sounds distant, and I don’t hear him running toward me, so I don’t think he spotted me. He just knows I wouldn’t have managed to make it very far yet.

Stupid. I’m so stupid for thinking I’d made it out. I never should’ve underestimated Isaiah. He’ll find a way to drag me back, no matter how long it takes.

“Heaven! Enough running. You need to come home.”

I gulp. He’s angry—angrier than I’ve ever heard him. I knew my disappearance would wound his pride, but I thought he’d be over it by now. Would’ve gotten remarried, had a child with someone else… maybe even two.

“Heaven,” he yells, and he sounds closer now. Too close, but he still doesn’t know where I am.

“You made a vow!” Isaiah’s voice echoes off the nearby buildings. “You know what happens when you break it.”

My chest fills with cold, hard dread. He’s going to kill me.

I dart out from behind the bush I was using for cover. I just have to get to the party. Once I’m there, I’ll be surrounded by people, and he won’t be able to hurt me. I can get lost in the crowd, find a place to hide, figure out my next—

Tires screech, and too late, I realize I ran into the street without checking for cars. I scramble out of the way and trip, sending myself flying onto the hard road. My knees and palms burn, and I brace for impact, but the car swerves just enough to not hit me. Whoever is behind the wheel has quick reflexes.

“Sorry,” I shout to the driver.

As I gather myself up, the car door opens. I can’t make out who it is with the headlights blinding me, but I don’t care. I have to get out of here.

“Sorry,” I say again breathlessly before stumbling toward the sidewalk. Standing so quickly has me dizzy, and I’m crashing to the ground again before I’ve even moved five feet.

“Heaven,” Isaiah yells. I can’t see him—he’s on the other side of the car, still running through the nearby picnic area—but he’s close.

No, no, no. There’s no way the car didn’t draw Isaiah’s attention. He was already gaining on me, so I have maybe a minute before he’s on me. There’s no way I can outrun him. I’m too drunk, too small, and he’s too fast.

I can’t go back. I would rather die than end up trapped at Cornerstone again.

Glancing around, I zero in on the bridge that crosses Westwind Creek. With the rain we’ve gotten over the past week, the current is rushing downhill, fast enough to carry me away.

There’s no other way.

Just as I push myself to my feet, a hand comes out of nowhere. It grips my upper arm hard and whirls me around. Panic seizes my chest, but it’s Colton’s face that comes into view, not Isaiah’s.

“What the hell were you thinking?” he snaps. “You could’ve gotten hurt.”

I shove away from him. My only thought is making sure I reach the bridge in time. It’s either that or Cornerstone.

Can’t go back. Please, I don’t want to go back.

“Angel,” Colton says harshly. He grabs me again and hauls me back, his hand wrapping around my throat and holding me in place.

“Hey! Don’t let her get away!”

I can’t help the terrified noise that escapes me at Isaiah’s shout. He’s getting closer, and I can’t overpower Colton to get away.

He throws Isaiah a half glance. “Who is that?”

But I don’t answer, too focused on trying to loosen his grip on my neck. In my desperation, it strikes me as ironic. I escaped one tyrant only to fall into the hands of another, and now things are about to come full circle.

Tears spring into my eyes. “Please, Colton. Please let me go. He’ll… You don’t understand. Please. Please.”

His brows furrow, and for a split second, I swear I see genuine concern flash in his eyes. But then it’s gone, replaced with his usual hardness.

“Heaven,” Isaiah shouts, and my blood runs cold as he comes into the reach of the streetlights, his face contorted with fury.

Seconds. Fifteen, maybe twenty seconds, and then my life as I know it will be snatched away from me.

Clinging to that moment of worry on Colton’s face, I grip his wrists. “If there’s any part of you that still cares about me, please, Colton. I have to get away from him.”

I’m not sure what I’m asking for—for Colton to let me go so I can jump into the raging creek, or for him to defend me. Unlike Aaron, Colton actually could.

Again, his eyes flit to Isaiah, who’s almost to the road now.

“Colt, please,” I whisper.

He grits his teeth, his eyes sharpening with irritation.

He’s not going to help me.

He’s going to abandon me, just like he did in the library.

“God fucking dammit.”

At first I think he’s pushing me to the ground, but when I stumble, he keeps me upright. I’m shoved into the passenger seat a second later, the door slamming behind me.

“Heaven, don’t you dare,” Isaiah yells as he hits the sidewalk a few yards back, running at full speed.

Colton is already rounding the car. He slides into the driver’s seat just as Isaiah reaches us. I can hear him screaming at me, but I’m too shaken to understand a single thing he’s saying.

“Christ.” Colton accelerates so hard the tires squeal.

Isaiah manages to kick the side of the car, making me jump. My heart feels like it’s going to beat out of my chest as I turn in my seat. Through the back window, I can just make out his form in the dark. He’s chasing us, still shouting.

“Who the hell is that?” Colton demands as he whips around a corner.

“I—I don’t know,” I stutter, knowing I don’t sound convincing. Now that Isaiah is out of sight, I sink into my seat and take my first full breath.

He can’t get to me.

Not that Colton is much better, but it’s either him or getting dragged back to Cornerstone. And Cornerstone… maybe Isaiah would forgive me and let me live, but based on his threat, I don’t think that’s the case.

You made a vow. You know what happens when you break it.

Colton casts me a disbelieving glance—terrifying, considering the speed we’re going.

“Please keep your eyes on the road,” I squeak out.

His smirk exudes his usual confidence, although he does what I asked. “I’m the safest driver in this town, angel. Now tell me the truth.”

“I really don’t know who he is,” I whisper.

He’s holding the steering wheel with one hand, and his grip tightens. “After making me deal with your bullshit earlier, you at least owe me the truth. That motherfucker probably dented my car.”

Seriously? That’s what he’s worried about right now?

“Because it’s not like you don’t have another one,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.

“Well, this one is my favorite, and if he put even a single scratch on it, I’m gonna kill him.”

Please do.

I bite my tongue before I say that out loud because really, truly, I don’t want Isaiah dead. I don’t want his parents and siblings to have to mourn him so early on in his life.

For a few miles, we ride in tense silence. Even though there’s no way Isaiah can catch up to us, I’m not safe—not in this town, and not with Colton.

Once he deems us far enough away from Isaiah, Colton pulls over. “Who was that guy? And don’t fucking lie to me.”

But I can’t speak. Even if there’s a tiny part of me that wants to tell Colton everything in the hopes that he’ll take pity on me, I can’t. The more likely outcome is that he’ll find a way to use Isaiah’s identity against me.

“Angel.” Colton shakes me gently. “Talk to me.”

My heart clenches. For whatever reason, he’s not taunting me right now, and the way he says the nickname he gave me almost sounds the way he used to say it.

Reverent. Worshipful. Adoring.

It’s a trick. Don’t fall for it.

“He was waiting near my dorm hall, and when I got back, he started yelling and chasing me. That’s all I know.”

A deadly silence fills the car, and when I risk a glance at Colton, his jaw is set. I don’t think he believes me. Colton, Lucas, and Xander don’t know much about my past, but they know I was in a cult, and that I ran away. Colton could easily put the pieces together and conclude that Isaiah is from Cornerstone, and I don’t want that.

The less information he has, the safer I am.

“Does he want to hurt you?” Colton asks, his voice low and controlled.

I nod, swallowing down the lump in my throat. Even if Isaiah takes me back and chooses to let me live, things won’t be different. I barely saw him, but it was enough for me to know that he’s still the same violent, angry man he was when I ran away from home.

“Where do you want to go?” Colton asks.

I stare at him. What?

He raises a brow impatiently. “Well?”

“You’re not going to throw me out of your car?”

He hums. “Maybe I should.”

“Wha—no! Please don’t.”

I regret my words immediately. That predatory spark returns to Colton’s eyes, the one that makes my stomach twist with worry. I shrink back when he turns his gaze on me.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. I know better than to show him even a sliver of vulnerability. He can’t know the truth. He’ll find some way to exploit it, to make things worse. I’ve already told him more than I should’ve.

A chill settles over me. He wouldn’t take me back to Isaiah, would he? He’s been cruel, but dumping me at the feet of a man who obviously wants to hurt me would be a step further than the boys have ever taken their bullying.

Although… considering what Colton threatened me with earlier, maybe they’ve decided to stop holding back.

“Who is he to you?” Colton asks, his voice edged with danger, and I realize that predatory glint in his eyes isn’t directed toward me.

It’s pointed at my husband.

“I—I told you, I don’t know who he is.”

“Why did he call you Heaven?”

“You’ve never had someone mispronounce your name before?” My voice is too high, too shaky. Goddammit, where are my lying skills when I need them?

His eyes narrow, and in a flash, he’s gripping my throat and squeezing the sides. I gasp, clawing at his arm, but the thick fabric of his hoodie protects him.

“Colton,” I choke out. My airway is unrestricted, but he’s cutting off the blood flow to my brain. I probably don’t even have a minute before I pass out.

“You don’t lie to me. Not about something like this, Haven. You understand me?”

I go still, my gaze clashing with his. He’s never called me by my first name. Not since I betrayed him.

Why does he care?

“Who is he to you?” he repeats, his voice harsh.

“Can’t,” I whisper as black creeps into the edges of my vision.

“Yes, you can. Tell me.”

I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Now.”

My body starts to go weak, and he releases me, shoving me into my seat. Clarity slowly returns as blood rushes to my brain, and it hits me that he’s glaring at me.

“Why does he want to hurt you?”

“Why do you care?” I toss back.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Colton’s finger skirts across my jawbone in a way that has me shivering. “No one gets to hurt you. No one but us.”

“He won’t find me again.”

I’ll make sure of it.

He raises a brow. “Yeah? How are you gonna manage that? Gonna hide in your dorm?”

I rub my throat with my shaking hand. “I’ll… I’ll stay in a motel or something.”

Colton laughs. Not a chuckle—a full-on laugh, with his head thrown back and everything. It’s a cruel sound, and when he looks at me, he shakes his head. “Do you have any idea how easy it is to break into a motel room?”

“I—”

“And how many more campus security guys are you gonna have to suck off to pay for a room? Because you can’t afford a motel for long at the rate you’re charging.”

My body goes stiff as I remember the picture he sent. “How the hell did you find out about that?”

“Oh, I know everything you do in this town, angel. Every book you read, every building you enter, every person you interact with. If you so much as sneeze, I hear about it.”

He’s got to be joking. His father is powerful, I know, but this? It’s on another level entirely. Although… it makes sense. How else would he have known to pull the security camera footage from the library this morning?

“I’ll figure something out,” I say weakly.

“Will you, now?” Colton’s gaze is steady, piercing right through the last bit of resolve I’ve been clinging to.

Now he’s mocking me, and it stings. I’m a fucking mess—terrified, drunk, and alone. And he’s right not to believe me. He’s right to mock me.

I curse the tears that fill my eyes as I whisper, “I don’t have anywhere to go. Colton, I…”

“Are you asking me for help?” He sounds faintly surprised but more happy about the development than anything else. Of course he is. It’s one more thing to hold over me, to torment me with.

“I…”

Am I? Truly, I’m not sure where else to go. The only people I trust are Julie, Ben, and Athelia. I can’t drag any of them into this—not more than they already are.

Back by the bridge, I thought I had two options: fall back into Isaiah’s hands or jump into the creek. But maybe there’s a third option. It’s not safe, and it’s certainly not smart, but it’s all I have.

There’s no way Isaiah found my dorm without someone on campus informing him of where it is. That means I can’t do anything predictable because it’s possible Isaiah has been told about all the places I usually hang out. But I could hide out at the one place no one would expect me to ever step foot into.

“Can I stay with you?” I ask. My voice trembles, and I play into it, hoping to reach the boy he used to be before I hurt him.

Colton stares at me, his expression blank. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s what he does when I surprise him. He has to take a second to think, to figure out how to spin things to his advantage. And while he does, he knows better than to show his hand—to reveal what he’s feeling.

It makes me wonder who hurt him enough that he had to resort to masking his emotions. I know it wasn’t me. He did it before I fucked everything up, too.

Finally, the corner of Colton’s mouth tips up. “Sounds like you need to start begging.”

I almost roll my eyes. It’s a standard humiliation practice, one that he and his friends have subjected me to dozens of times. I hate it, but I can bear it.

“Please, Colton.”

He clicks his tongue, his smile growing. “I know you can do better than that.”

“I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’m begging you, please help me. Please let me stay with you. I…”

He tilts his head, waiting for me to go on.

“I need you to help me.”

That seems to do something to him. Again, his hand is wrapped around my throat, gripping hard enough to bruise. He pulls me across the console, far enough that I have to brace a hand on his thigh to steady myself.

“Say it again.”

I hate it when he does this. My cheeks burn from equal parts embarrassment and anger. I’m powerless, and here he is, taking pleasure in being my only savior. Leaving me to grovel for a morsel of kindness.

“I need you. Please, Colton.”

His gaze drops to my lips, and for a confusing second, it lingers there. He smiles, the sight devilish in the dark.

“Is it enough?” I whisper, bracing myself.

He’s my only option. If he decides he wants more, I’ll have no choice but to comply.

“No,” Colton says softly, pulling me another inch closer. “And you know it can’t be that simple.”

“Plea—”

“You want my help? Then prove you’re worth it.”

Dread fills my stomach. “How?”

He drags my hand up his thigh until my palm is centered over his cock, hard underneath his pants. “I know what that pretty little mouth of yours is capable of. You have until we get to my house to make me come.”

I glance out the car window, trying to figure out where we are. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“It’ll take fifteen minutes to get to my house if I go the speed limit.” He’s already unzipping his jeans. Dammit, he knows I can’t say no. “But I never do.”

“You’re an asshole.”

Colton shrugs, nonchalant, as if my literal life doesn’t depend on him right now. “Never argued otherwise. Better get to work, angel.”

As he puts the car into drive, I swallow down the string of insults he deserves and wet my lips. This is about survival, and despite my hatred for Colton, I really don’t want to die.

Jaw clenched, I pull his dick from his briefs. His skin is hot to the touch, and he’s fully hard, and… huge. Oh my god, so big. Thick and long and beautifully curved. This is the type of cock that would hit the perfect spot inside me—as long as Colton knows how to use it.

Doubtful, considering he’s a selfish motherfucker.

I realize my thighs are pressed together, and based on the smug look on Colton’s face, he noticed, too. That’s just the thing to send a fresh wave of disgust through me, and I roll my eyes at him.

He grabs my hair, and I yelp as he yanks me toward his crotch. His cock hits my face, and for a split second, I let myself fantasize about biting him.

“Open your mouth, you fucking slut.”

I do, wrapping my lips around the head of his dick. He shoves me down, forcing me to take more of him than I’m ready to, and I gag. Tears fill my eyes as he holds me there. When my body convulses violently and I choke again, he groans. Whether it’s because it feels good or because he loves watching me struggle, I’m not sure.

When Colton finally lets me up, I gasp for air, blinking back tears. He’s still gripping my hair while steering the car with the other hand, and I’m grateful I can’t see the odometer. I’d probably die on the spot from anxiety at how fast we’re going.

“Suck like your life depends on it, bitch, because it fucking does.”

That sends a shock of fear through me, so I immediately get back to work. If Colton were a better man, he’d help me whether I succeeded or not. But he’s taken pleasure in my suffering for years at this point.

I have to do this—and I know I can.

My first couple times sucking dick, it was in an attempt to desensitize myself to sex. Obviously, it didn’t work, but that’s all I ended up needing.

All I had to do was get in good with a couple campus security guys, and I was set. I don’t touch students—too messy, and I don’t need shitty rumors spreading around about me. The security guys know to keep their mouths shut if they want me to blow them. Idiot teenage boys? Yeah, not that smart.

It gives me some semblance of an income, and sometimes, it’s even satisfying. I don’t let myself think about that part too much. It’s just something I do to survive that I also happen to enjoy.

After everything Isaiah put me through, I never thought I’d like the feeling of being used. But every time a man uses my mouth to get himself off and then tosses forty bucks at me, I get off, too. Not in the literal sense—I’ve never let any man touch me like that besides Colton—but it soothes an ache in me that went unnoticed for years.

“Shit, you really are good at this.” Colton’s grip on my hair tightens as he takes a turn fast enough to throw me around. “But then again, I guess it’s from all the practice you’ve gotten, huh? Filthy slut.”

My nails dig into his thigh as I hold back my retort. I can’t fight back, and he knows it. Not if I want to survive tonight.

I focus on the tip of his cock for a moment, running my tongue along the sensitive underside. When I hear him trying to stifle a groan, I do it again. He wants to call me a slut? Fine. I’ll own that shit.

For the next few minutes, I stroke him up and down with my hand, my mouth following. The salty taste of his precum fills my mouth, and he swears under his breath. The next turn he makes is extra sharp, like he’s on the verge of losing control.

I try not to think about what that means for my safety.

Swirling my tongue, I suck as I move upward, feeling Colton shudder under my touch. I’ve done this enough times to know that he’s right on the edge, and I’m close to securing the best version of safety I can afford.

“Goddammit, angel.”

The car jolts, coming to a harsh stop. I feel Colton’s dick throb under my tongue as he floods my mouth with salty, bitter cum. He shoves my head down, shooting the rest directly into my throat as he hisses out a curse.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He keeps me there, my breath cut off, until I’ve taken every last drop. When he yanks me back up, his eyes are hard and filled with burning hatred. He spits into my open mouth. “Swallow it.”

Grimacing, I do so, and he shoves me back into my seat. Breathless, I wipe at my mouth. My chest is empty, hollowed out, but a second feeling lingers. It’s one of a dark pleasure that feels endlessly deep. It’s always scared me, and the fear of falling in and never finding my way out again has haunted me for years.

“Two minutes to spare,” Colton mutters as he tucks his dick away and zips up his pants. “And I was even going faster than I normally do.”

“Seriously? Were you trying to make sure I wouldn’t be able to get you to finish in time?”

A slow smirk takes over his face. “More fun this way.”

God, I want to kill him.

With a huff, I cross my arms and stare out the window. He managed to pull over before he came, not that the road we’re on is particularly busy. We’re deep into a residential area, one with sprawling mansions, pristine lawns, and glowing streetlights.

I try to focus on our surroundings instead of the fact that I’m wet between my legs—no, soaked. More so than I usually am from giving a blow job. What’s worse, I think I know why, and I hate it.

My heart aching, I glance at Colton. His jaw is set, but other than that, he looks completely relaxed. He’s leaned back in his seat, his right hand resting in his lap and his left palming the steering wheel as we turn.

I’ve always found him attractive, and even after everything he’s done, I still find that to be infuriatingly true. And with the taste of his cum lingering on my tongue and my panties uncomfortably wet, I can’t deny that there was a small part of me that liked it when he degraded me.

Let’s not think about that too hard.

Colton drives through the neighborhood at a surprisingly slow speed, and I roll my eyes. Ridiculous.

“Gotta watch out for the pesky HOA Karens,” he says, and I jolt when I realize he’s been watching me out of the corner of his eye. “They wouldn’t hesitate to call the cops on a habitual speeder.”

“Whatever,” I mumble, making a mental note to look up whatever an HOA is. Even after being outside Cornerstone for three and a half years, I still have a frustrating amount of knowledge gaps.

Colton pulls onto a long driveway, and my jaw drops as his house—no, mansion—comes into view. It’s a modern design with huge windows covering most of the front of the house. Sharp, dark lines make up the rest of the house, highlighting the two-story deck on one side that probably wraps around the back. Behind the mansion is a thick forest, and the fog that was rolling in earlier clings to the trees.

Maybe it’s because it’s Halloween, but the place gives me the chills.

In the garage, Colton parks next to his other vehicle—a much flashier, more distinct sports car, although I don’t particularly care which type. On the other side is a motorcycle that I’ve seen him ride once or twice.

The door closes behind us, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Miles separate Isaiah and I, plus a locked door. He can’t touch me here, and I feel my body melting into the seat at the realization.

“What did he do to you?” Colton’s voice is surprisingly soft, a glimpse of the old him that makes my stomach flip.

“Nothing.” I fumble with the door handle.

He grabs my arm. “Angel—”

“Drop it, Colton. I did what you asked. Now you need to hold up your end of the deal.”

His nostrils flare, and his eyes narrow, but he releases me.

“The car,” I say once I’m out of the BMW. “Can he track the license plate to you? To this address?”

“Plate is a fake,” he says as he rounds the vehicle to stand next to me.

I stare at him in shock. “Why?”

“You’re not the only one who doesn’t want things traced back to them.”

I blink, trying to figure out what he means. What was he doing that made him feel the need to use a fake license plate?

“Colton—”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.”

I clench my jaw at his condescending tone and the blatant misogyny, but before I can say anything, he throws me over his shoulder and carries me across the garage.

“Colton! What the hell are you—”

He slaps my ass. “Shut up.”

I do, but only because I’m shocked into silence. The asshole just spanked me.

Inside the house, he sets me on his kitchen counter. The black granite is cool on the backs of my thighs, and my skirt flares out, now dirty from my fall.

“Stay,” he tells me.

My anger flares up again. First, he carried me inside like I’m an object to him, something to move around as he pleases, and now he’s giving me orders like I’m a fucking dog?

“You don’t own me,” I say, even though I’m in no position to piss him off right now.

He hums, the sound deep and dark. “We’ll see about that.”