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CHAPTER 1
Charity
“I should kill you.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d issued the warning, and it wouldn’t be the last. “Then do it. I don’t care any longer.” Every inch of my body trembled with fear, but I’d been through so much that nothing mattered any longer.
He leered at me, swaying back and forth, the combination of venom and lust disgusting.
My God. The man was intoxicated, which always made his anger unbearable. He was a violent savage who’d told me so many times he loved me. Without warning, he wrapped his hand around my throat, squeezing as his eyes filled with glee. I slapped my hands on his arms, but he was too strong. Choking, I couldn’t breathe, stars floating in front of my eyes. “Please…” Why beg him? Why stoop so low? That’s what he fed off, the agony and tears fueling his hatred.
He squeezed even harder before shoving me away. I tumbled backward, hitting my hip on the dresser. “You need to remember, bitch. There isn’t a hole you can crawl into where I won’t find you.” He threw a brutal jab and I was tossed to the floor.
His words echoed in my ears as I swallowed blood. I wished I could say the brutal punch to my jaw had been unexpected, something that had never happened before, but it would be a horrible lie like everything else in my narrow world. A world he owned, a bastard who’d wooed me, sweeping me off my feet months before.
I’d fallen into a horrible trap I had no way of escaping. No phone. No car. No friends. No money. He’d stripped my entire life away from me one dark night while I was sleeping, laughing about his horrible deeds the next day. After that, I’d become his prisoner. But I’d found a way of beating him even for a little while, the leash I was on allowing me a few outings from the house with two bodyguards by my side, a joyful taste of freedom if only for a little while.
Tears formed in my eyes, but I did everything in my power to drive them away. The beatings were worse when I showed any emotion. I remained on the floor, allowing my long hair to continue covering my face, gasping for air as the sobs furrowing in my chest threatened to give me away. I couldn’t live like this any longer. I was certain he’d kill me one day and I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“You will do as I say, Charity. You belong to me. I’ll fuckin’ kill anyone who tries to take you away.”
The threat was real.
However, I was much stronger than he realized. Hate replaced the fear, allowing a rush of adrenaline to put an end to the sadness. He’d lied to me. He’d used me. He’d stripped away my dignity. No more. Fuck him. Fuck his power. Fuck the life I believed would be magical. There was no such thing as a happily ever after with a savage like him.
“I fucking hate you. You will never own me.”
He laughed at my ridiculous words, shaking his head. I’d crossed a line. I’d gone too far. Maybe death was better than this.
“Heed my warning, you slut,” he growled as he fisted my hair, yanking my head back at an awkward angle. His glare was full of venom, as if I was the reason his world was caving in on him. The tip of his switchblade was driven under my chin, the cold prick of pain meaning he’d drawn blood. “I will slice you from ear to ear if you ever attempt to leave me.”
And I knew he would.
I managed a smile, an expression he hated. As soon as his fist connected with my face, I knew I’d crossed an invisible line, but the truth was I no longer cared. He’d taken everything from me, including my family, every safety mechanism destroyed.
With a single exception.
It was time.
No, it was past time to end the charade of my life.
When I said nothing, not a single sound flowing past my swollen lips, he finally grew bored, pitching me aside as if I was trash. His heavy footsteps as he stormed toward the door allowed me to smile. The door slammed and I slumped to the floor, bringing my knees to my chest. As I started to rock, doing everything I could to ignore the pain, I heard my mother’s voice inside my head, the lullaby she used to sing to me as a child.
If only she were here.
If only I could feel the warmth of her smile, or her strong arms wrapped around me one last time. If only…
Two months passed. Two months of biding my time, of trying to figure out what if anything I could do. Then an angel had come from the ugly shadows, her encouragement offering me a chance at hope and a better future. But I’d been forced to be careful, the bastard watching every move I made for weeks. At least his business had taken him not only outside of the house but out of the city as well. I could only imagine what horrors he was inflicting on those he considered inferior to him.
How often had he raged about claiming LA? How many times had I seen him with blood on his clothes? Enough that I knew exactly what he was capable of.
This would be my only chance at escaping. I’d managed to hide what few items I was taking with me in the garden shed days before, waiting until I could convince the only decent soldier working for my fiancé to allow me to go outside for a little while. When he’d taken a phone call, I reacted without hesitation. I would either find freedom or succumb to death.
I glanced over my shoulder, feeling certain his soldiers had followed me. Only when I’d gotten on the bus did I take a deep breath, yet all during the ride, I’d been terrified one of the bastard’s men would force the bus to the curb. When I stepped off, my stomach churning, I accepted that I was in divine hands at this point. There was no other way to look at the horrible situation.
My entire body ached from tension and terror, the combination keeping me short of breath. I’d risked my life coming here but it was worth it. I only prayed to God my only friend wouldn’t turn against me. If she did, I was a dead woman. I knocked again, forced to rest against the doorjamb, another wave of exhaustion tearing through me.
When the door finally opened, I lifted my head.
