A Sacrifice Hidden For Three Years

Sparks

my ankle drew m

nnocently on the carpet, had pierced my

ckered to the woun

of concern? No

gination-a trick of the

ut me anymore. Not

ngings, my fingers trembling as I picked

d, a bitter ache b

ed shoes just inches from my face-an

nce pressed down on me,

h cruel mockery. "Didn't your sugar daddy leave you with enough nice th

from your exes, I see. What, did Becke

bruptly, mee

voice remained calm and steady. "We bro

in his ja

a dead-end front desk job, still pining for men who toss you aside? You picked the wron

whip, lashing at my

listen to t

a desperate need to

t, grabbing my arm a

his body pinning mine in place

was brutal, forcing

ean-dark, fathomless, swirling wi

e small cut on my leg, a flicker of

eyes away, turning

d, almost a command. "I'll take you home. T

at him, b

his unexpected offe

a small cut-

I found myself walking toward his sleek black

his tone, the unexpected hint

long dead-still craved even the smallest

s a

ine purred to

sperate need to make him believe me-to see me as s

his eyes fixed

efcase on the passenger seat, his

ll first-aid kit, e

y lap without a wor

ething small and worn tumbled o

m, faded with time, intricately

harm-a "pi

caught in

to him years ago,

but I had poured all my hopes into it-a

thrown it away, along with a

ked away in his car,

is hand reachin

the worn fabric, then tossed it back into the

sarcasm. "This thing was supposed to keep me safe. It

keep this charm to protect me, and then you were the

the pain a welcome distracti

ruths, clawed at my thro

let them. I c

uences wer

ic forced the words

one feeling like a bu

p to my small ap

I saw h

his hands in his pockets,

lickered

the steering wheel, his

n Kyle, hardened

akes, the sudden sto

on shifting from concern to

car crackled with

was a low snarl, laced with brutal accusation. "

n't a

, my hands trembling. "Thank

forced. I reached f

s with a sharp cli

d on his lips, comple

ough cash? Or were you just not good enough to earn it f

omous attack, hittin

nadulterated rage

pain, my hand shot out and

hoed in the confin

alarm, started pounding on the window. "

didn't

inside of his cheek, his gaze burning i

, his voice lethal.

oor, and the locks f

d Kyle rushed to my side, pulling me

ow rolled do

ed out, landing with a soft thu

quealing as it sped away-leaving behind a

lt, my fingers closing ar

dirt, my eyes burni

med down my face, land

. "Hazel," he said, his voice thick with concern

h escaping him. "He dese