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No.

I twist around and gasp.

It’s Please. He’s wearing that gruesome mask. He’s terrifying. Emotionless.

My guts churn. It’s time.

“I thought you’d be pleased I brought you a friend.” Please reaches behind his back, pulls out a gun, and aims it at me. “Let go of her ropes.”

I glare at him, positioning myself in front of Melly.

“Don’t be stupid.” He gestures toward the bed with the gun. “Get up and go to the bed.”

“Fuck you.” Hatred burns in my stomach like acid.

“Don’t make me kill you.” He advances.

I’d rather die here and now than subject myself to whatever twisted game Please has cooked up. The thought of him touching me, raping me, is too much to bear.

If I fight him, if I try to run, a bullet in the back would end it all.

My chest heaves. I could do it. Just run. Die fast.

Hold on, hold on, hold on. Lucy’s voice pulses in my ears. A chant. A plea.

Don’t give up. Fight, Delilah.

Tears spring to my eyes as I reach up and grip the locket around my throat.

Fight.

I close my eyes and think of all the good in my life. Happy things. Dancing in the Creek House. Mud pies with Evangeline. Cole telling me he loves me, those deep blue eyes seeing every piece of me.

I have to fight. For Melly. For Cole.

He’s out there looking for me. I can feel him. He will never rest until he finds me.

I just have to stay alive as long as I can.

“Now. Up.” Please jerks the gun. “You first.” His eyes move to Melly. “Then her.”

I sway as I stand, heading for the bed in a dazed fugue. When I get there, laid out across the sheet is one of my costumes from the club. A beautiful burgundy silk slip dress.

“Strip,” Please commands. “Dress yourself. They want to see Lady Lawless.” His laugh cackles with a sick twistedness. He’s enjoying himself. I’ve never hated anyone more.

I untie the apron around my waist. As I lay it on the bed, I feel something hard in the front pocket. My breath hitches. The corkscrew. The knife I used earlier to open the whiskey bottle.

The night air is cool on my bare skin as I undress. I feel Please’s disgusting, lecherous eyes on me. “Exquisite.” His hand bats against the front of his pants. “This is exactly the way I imagined you so many times. Just for me.”

I dress as slowly as I can, putting the stockings on my legs. I step into the dress, then my stilettos.

Keeping one eye on Please, I fold and stack my clothing neatly at the end of the bed. It only takes the slip of a quick finger to tug the corkscrew out of my apron pocket. As I lean over, I discreetly palm it. I don’t have many places to hide it on my body, in my skimpy lingerie, so I stick it in the garter high on the side of my thigh. It holds tightly. I pray it goes unnoticed.

“Beautiful,” he whispers. “You’re the most beautiful girl in the word, Lady Lawless.”

Please wants Lady Lawless. That’s exactly who he’s going to get.

Because this summer I learned who I am. What I want to do. Who I love. Every little piece of me I discovered, I treasure. I want it. I want my life.