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“An award isn't needed,” I smirked, seeing the flash of hurt in his eyes. “Being able to get the fuck away from this hellhole will be award enough.”

“Feel free to leave whenever you’re ready. Your shit is by the door where you left it. There’s a thousand in notes in an envelope for you. See it as payment for services rendered,” he sneered, raking his eyes down my body.

“Was that an attempt to humiliate and insult me? It failed miserably. I’m not going to be ashamed because I had sex with someone.

But thank you for proving my point. Remember when I said you were just like Alex?

Bringing money into what I assumed was consensual sex just proves it was all a transaction to you.

Your little insult was nothing but a self-burn, Dante.

Well done for being on Alex’s level, though, how fucking thrilling for you.

” Every word I spoke had a voice screaming in my head, telling me to stop.

Telling me that there was no recovering from this. That this would be final.

But I couldn’t stop. I had to wound. I had to make him feel what I was feeling.

“And well done to you for being so beyond fucking damaged, that even the so-called outcasts of society don’t want a fucking thing to do with you. Enjoy your life, Rachel. Keep it as far away from mine and my daughters as possible.”

“Oh, believe me, that won’t be a fucking problem. The only reason I’ve pretended to give a fuck about you was because of that little girl. Don't fool yourself into thinking you were anything but a decent fuck to pass the time. Bee is the only thing appealing about you.”

“Is that right? It's a shame you'll never see her again then, isn’t it?”

“Daddy, no!” came a heartbreaking sob from the hallway, making my heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

“Bee—”

“Don’t send her away, Daddy. Please don’t make her leave me!”

He walked over to her and scooped her up into his arms, attempting to take her upstairs.

“No!” she screamed. “Rachel! Mummy! Don’t go. Please stay! Please!”

I closed my eyes, hating hearing the pain in her voice. She was screaming, kicking at Dante’s chest and attempting to grab hold of anything she could to stop him from carrying her away from me.

Her nails clawed against the wall, her fingers latched onto the banister, but it was no use. Dante gently dislodged her grip every time.

“Dante,” I said, my voice cracking as I rushed forward.

“At least let me say goodbye to her!” I called after his retreating form.

He paused for a moment before slowly turning around.

He placed Bee on the floor, and she came running to me, throwing herself into my outstretched arms as I crouched down on the floor.

I almost tumbled back with the force of her hug. I wrapped my arms around her tiny waist and pulled her as close to me as I could.

“I’m so sorry, Bee. I’m sorry I have to leave you.”

“Mummy, please,” she sobbed into my hair, her entire body shaking, her breathing coming in huge, gulping hiccups. “You swore. You swore you would never leave. I love you!”

How could I leave? How could I leave her behind? I would never fucking forgive Dante for this. Never.

“I know, and I’m sorry, sweetheart. I am so, so sorry.” My words were almost choking me. My chest felt heavy, my words thick. “I have to go. I have to leave.”

“I love you, Mummy,” she wailed, her hands balling into fists that clung to my clothes.

Dante came forward and scooped her back into his arms, pulling her away from me with minimal effort. My arms immediately felt cold and bare as he pulled away the child I had considered my own daughter.

“No!” she screamed, her arms reaching out for me as her voice cracked and turned hoarse.

Dante didn’t hesitate any longer. He turned his back and walked away from me without another word, taking Bee with him.

I heard her all the way up the stairs, screaming out for the only mother she had ever known. She was hysterical, her screams piercing, echoing throughout the halls and straight into my heart.

A single tear spilled over and rolled down my cheeks before I angrily swiped it away. I sniffed loudly, straightened my back, and shook my head, ridding my head of all the loud, screaming, jumbled thoughts.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I walked to the door, grabbed my bag, and threw it over my shoulder. I looked down and saw the envelope sticking out of the side of it and threw the bag back down to the floor. I grabbed the envelope, pulled the money out, and threw it on the floor.

Dante could fucking keep it. I wanted nothing from him.

I looked down at the bag, remembering it was full of clothes that had been bought with his money. I reached inside, grabbed my passport, my bank card, keys and my phone, and stormed out of the door, leaving the rest behind.

I was just slamming the car door shut when I saw a light flick on upstairs, and Dante’s silhouette climbing the walls as he took Bee to her room for the night.

My heart pounded in my chest, and a sob was ripped from my throat.

It took every ounce of strength I possessed not to run back in there and beg him not to do this to us.

But I wouldn’t be the one to cave. I wouldn’t stay where I wasn’t wanted.

The front door was ripped open a second later and Vienna’s huge frame came tumbling out as he rushed to button up his trousers. I slammed my foot down on the accelerator, ignoring the shout of my name over the roar of the engine.

I was done with this place and the entire fucking club, and I wouldn’t be looking back any longer.

Some wounds would never heal, and Dante taking that little girl from me was my fucking limit.

I was done.