"Listen to me, Alex."His voice is urgent, intense."You need to stay strong.Don't let that bastard break you.You're stronger than him.You're doing so well."
My breath catches."We need to get out of here.But I don't know how."
"Alex, you need to promise me that if you have the chance to get out of here without me, you'll take it."
I start to protest, but he silences me with another kiss, this one harder, more desperate.
When he breaks away, his eyes bore into mine."Alex, I'm serious.David is unstable.He will go to extremes to punish me.He's infatuated with you, and you need to use that against him.Even if that means leaving me behind."
"No!"The word tears from my throat."I'm not leaving this hell hole without you, period.I—"
"For fuck's sake, don't challenge me on this."Raw fear edges into his voice."Whatever happens to me, I want to know you'll be taking care of Sam.She can't lose both of us; it will tear her apart.She needs a mother figure in her life.She can live without—"
I crush my mouth to his, cutting off those terrible words."Don't you dare finish that goddamn sentence, Walker!"I pull back, sliding off his lap.Standing over him, I let my anger fuel my strength."We're in this shit hole together.And we're going to leave it.Together."
I plant my hands on my hips, glaring until he releases a long, frustrated huff.Bending to retrieve the water bottle, I soften my voice."Now, please, drink more before I have to put on that dress.We need to figure out how to get that remote control and deal with that psycho.His phone works down here – if I can get it, I can call for help."
After helping him drink again, I walk out to change, knowing David could return any moment.Cole's gaze follows my every move, but he stays silent.When I turn back to face him in the red dress and heels, his expression shifts.
"He might be a sick bastard, but he sure knows what looks sizzling hot on you."
A small laugh escapes – the first in days – as I sway back to him, trying to hold onto this moment of normalcy.I stop before his chair.
"Hey, beautiful."
The desire in his deep voice stirs something warm inside me, a welcome respite from the constant fear.I lean down, pouring all my love into one kiss.It deepens naturally, the roughness of his lips against mine pulling us into our own world where nothing exists but us.
"I should have known you were playing me."
David's voice shatters everything.I jerk back, heart stopping.
"Get the fuck out of there!"
I stumble backward as David storms into the cell, his fist connecting with Cole's ribs in a sickening thud."Fucking bastard!She's mine!"
Cole's agonized grunt echoes off the walls as David keeps hitting him."You just don't know when to stop taking what is mine, do you!Well, guess what?Tonight it ends."
Something in David's eyes shifts – that final thread of sanity snapping.The look he gives Cole turns my blood to ice.This is it.He's going to kill him.
My body moves before my mind catches up.I grab two pieces of cutlery from the table, tucking one under my dress and gripping the other tight.Now or never.
"Leave him alone!"I plant myself in the doorway, knife raised.
David's head snaps up, but instead of fear, his face twists into something worse – pure, lustful malice."You've chosen your fate."His voice drops to a whisper."I'll find myself another doll face."
Bile burns my throat, but I force steel into my voice."I'll never be yours.You're nothing more than a pathetic piece of shit that feasts on control."
His grin turns feral."Well, Mr.Walker," he purrs, eyes never leaving my face."Pay attention, because you'll be the witness of what I do with a disobedient woman."That grin widens."When you're dead, I'm going to lie your corpse in front of him on the floor."
Cole's face contorts in rage and terror."Please, don't kill her.Kill me instead!"
"Too late for that.She made her choice."David lunges, faster than I expected.I dodge sideways, remembering Cole's training.My heel connects with his nose in a spray of blood.
"Remember, Alex, keep your guard up!"Cole's voice steadies me as I raise my hands, knife clenched tight.
David wipes blood from his face, rising slowly.His eyes have gone completely dead."You expect to beat me, sweetheart?"
"Yes, and if not, I'll die trying."
