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Wren
Four Weeks Earlier
Ileanedagainstthe white pedestal sink as I gazed at myself in the mirror. My hair was wet from the shower, soaking into my tank top, and dripping onto the tile floor. The boxed dye job I’d done on my hair wasn’t the best. As I turned my head, some of my blonde peeked through the light brown. I took a steadying breath as I stared at my wide-eyed face. My skin was paler than usual, my nerves making my limbs shaky and restless.
I couldn’t believe the time had come. I was doing this. My heart fluttered as I thought of Jay. He’d been such a good friend to me, and I was going to miss him. This night wouldn’t be possible without him, and I was so grateful I’d had the chance to meet him that night when we’d both escaped to our adjacent balconies for some fresh air. I was glad I’d been brave enough to break the rules. I wasn’t allowed to go outside without permission.
I gathered my thick, damp hair to one side of my head and braided it. It made the uneven color less noticeable. I didn’t think I needed to change my hair color, but Jay had encouraged me to do so. If Cain came looking for me at the bus station, I wouldn’t match the description he’d give.
Thinking of Cain had a spike of terror shooting through me, but I fought it back. I had to do this. It had been too long and if I didn’t get out now, there was no telling how far he would go. I had loved him once, but that seemed like a long time ago.
I finished my braid and secured it with a hair tie. I glanced at the watch Jay had bought for me. Almost time. The watch was cheap but pretty. I’d had to leave my phone behind in my apartment. Once settled somewhere, hopefully I’d get a new one.
I thought of the money Jay saved up for me and the backpack of items he’d put together along with the bus ticket. Tears sprang to my eyes. He’d helped me so much, from the goodness of his heart. Simply because I’d chosen to confide in him, and he wanted to help. I’d never be able to repay him.
I clenched my jaw, looking at myself in the mirror one more time. I lifted my chin. This was it. This was finally the night I’d stand up for myself. I’d take control of my life and not let him dictate who I could and could not be.
“You can do this,” I whispered to the girl in the mirror. And then I turned away, heading for the door and stepping out into the open-concept living room.
I froze. Every muscle in my body locked up in absolute horror.
No. No. This could not be happening.
But there he was, staring at me from one of the tall stools at the bar top counter. Cain Landry’s eyes were as black as the night sky. His head cocked to the side as he looked me up and down, giving me that familiar, assessing look. Those eyes stopped on my hair and flared with rage, but the rest of his face remained expressionless.
“Wren,” he said slowly, but without his normal control. It sounded off-kilter, as if it were teetering on the edge of breaking.
My eyes widened but I pooled all my strength to keep the rest of my expression blank. If I showed fear, it was weakness, and he would latch on until he broke me completely.
I let my gaze sweep over the room. It was too quiet. I wanted Jay to be in his room, resting and safe. But I knew better than to hope. I’d smelled the blood the moment my eyes collided with Cain.
On the floor of the kitchen, peeking out from the other side of the counter, was a hand. A hand I knew well. A hand that was limp. Lifeless. Bloody.
I wrenched my eyes back to Cain, vomit crawling up the back of my throat, but I couldn’t break. I couldn’t give in now…because Cain had a knife.
“Baby?” I tilted my head, narrowing my brows in concern and confusion. “What are you—”
Cain was on me in an instant. His strong arms shoved me against the wall, cracking my head back against the drywall.
“Don’t fuck with me, little bird,” he breathed into my ear as his forearm pushed hard against my chest. “You don’t think I knew you were sneaking out? Did you really think I had no idea you left the house and broke my rules every chance you fucking got?”
I didn’t struggle against him as my stomach filled with dread. I had no idea how he knew, but I couldn’t lie now. Secrets wouldn’t save me. Cain growled, pulling me away from the wall, only to push me back into it with so much force I saw stars.
“And then I found you here, with that bastard.” He leaned his face close to mine, close enough that I smelled the sharp scent of the nightclub. His eyes looked dark because his pupils were so dilated, barely their true color showed through.
“Did you fuck him? Did you let him between those pretty little legs and let him ruin you?”
I felt the knife then, digging into the soft flesh of my upper thigh. I sucked in a small breath, sweat glistening on my skin as I fought panic. I willed the numbness to wash over my body. I willed myself to find a way to survive this.
I finally moved, shaking my head vigorously. “No, baby. You know that I’m only yours. I’ve always been only yours.”
Something in his expression cracked. He leaned his forehead against mine, breathing heavily as though he’d been running, squeezing his eyes closed.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” he mumbled, almost to himself. The knife dug in deeper and wet blood pooled, running down my leg in streams.
He opened his eyes. “I want to believe you. But you’re a liar, little bird. You’re a liar now, and I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
“It wasn’t like that between us. He was a friend. Look.” I turned my head, nodding toward the bookcase close by. There was a framed picture of Jay on a shelf, kissing his longtime boyfriend. They looked so happy. So in love. A grief so intense it left me breathless gripped me in a vise. I tore my eyes away from the picture as Cain glanced at it.
