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“I didn’t intend to betray you.” I bite back a cry.

“Liar.” He slams me against the wall again.

The back of my head cracks against the unyielding surface.

“You’ve always been a terrible liar.”

“Please, you’re hurting me!” Panic floods my veins as I struggle earnestly. I have to get away. I have to escape. Please.

“This is but a taste of what’s to come if you cross me again.” He starts squeezing my throat so hard my vision starts to dim. “You’re lucky the evening went so well, or I’d start your punishment now.”

He leans in, his mouth inches apart from mine. “Or maybe…”

Out of nowhere, he moves in close and plants his disgusting lips on mine. I stand rigid, unresponsive, struggling for air.

The sound of the doorbell shifts Oliver’s attention, causing him to narrow his eyes at the door and release me. I gasp for air as he moves away, massaging my throat.

Oliver opens the door, and I hear the same smooth voice as before. It’s the stranger from earlier.

I don’t hesitate. Scrambling to my feet, not even bothering to fix my disheveled dress, I grab my purse and rush past Oliver and the dark-haired stranger through the open door. My heels click against the marble floors as I reach the elevators.

I slam my palm repeatedly against the call button, willing the doors to open to provide an escape from this prison of an apartment. The stranger’s smooth voice drifts down the hallway along with Oliver’s terse replies. My heart hammers.

The elevator finally arrives, and I hurry inside, punching the button for the lobby. As the doors start to close, a tall, broad-shouldered man steps forward, stopping them.

He studies me with amusement dancing in his bright blue eyes. “Going somewhere?”

“I-I’m sorry, I...” I glance behind me.

“It’s alright, darling. I’m waiting for my friend.” He leans against the elevator entrance, blocking the doors from closing.

Friend. I rub my sweaty palms on my dress. One of Oliver’s?

I edge toward the panel, preparing to jab the door close button.

“Ah, there you are,” the tall blonde man says.

The dark-haired stranger from earlier strides up, and both of them step into the elevator with me. Clutching my purse like a shield, I press myself into the corner.

As the elevator descends, I avoid meeting their gazes as they chat idly.

I scrub at my lips. They still burn from Oliver’s disgusting kiss.

With a soft chime, the doors open into the lobby, and I make a beeline for the exit. Risking a glance back, I see the two men standing in the elevator with their eyes locked on me.

I burst out of the revolving doors into the night, the cold air whipping through my hair. Frantically, I wave down a passing cab. It pulls to the curb, and I wrench open the door, collapsing into the back seat.

The cabbie glances at me in the rearview mirror. I rake a hand through my tangled hair, smoothing my dress with shaking fingers.

“Where to?”

Chapter 36

The elevator doors open and I’m face-to-face with Gemma. Her usually perfect hair is a mess, mascara is smudged under her eyes, her dress is wrinkled, and angry red marks around her slender neck make me tense up. She’s breathing hard, like she ran here as fast as she could.

I clench my hands on the side to stop from grabbing her. “What the fuck happened?”

She wraps her arms around herself. “I... I can’t do it anymore. I tried to play along, but…” Her voice breaks. “Elijah.”

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