Page 56 of Cruel Dominion

But I wasn’t going to thank the bastard for following me. It would only encourage him to be more controlling, and I’d had enough of men thinking they could run my life.

Carter cradled my face in his hand and I hated how much it made me want to cry.

“Come home with me,” he murmured. “Let me take care of you.”

I wanted so badly to give up control and let him do just that. Somehow, he always seemed to know how to make me feel good. I could still feel Jaden’s unwanted hands on my thigh, still had the memories of Josh suffocating me. Carter could make that all go away.

All I’d have to do was break my commitment to myself. Forget the girl I was trying to be when I left home and give him the reins.

Just this morning, I swore I’d cut things off between Carter and me. I had to focus on the future, not live in the past. No matter how tempting that past might be.

You’re a big girl, Anna. Buck the fuck up.

I shook my head. “No. I’m not going anywhere with you, Carter.”

Drawing on all my strength, I turned away from him. The car was just down the block. I walked toward it, digging into my bag to find the keys. My hands were shaking so hard, I dropped them in the gutter.

Fuck.

I bent to dig them out with a curse on my lips and stood, rushing to find the button to unlock the doors.

Carter came up behind me, settling his hands on my shoulders. “You’re in no condition to drive.”

“I’ll be fine. Just go home, Carter.”

“Anna, put the keys away.”

I unlocked the door and reached for the handle.

“Anna.”

No sooner had I gotten the door open than he picked me up, tore my camera from around my neck, and threw me over his shoulder, the keys dropping out of my hand onto the sidewalk. My portfolio scattering onto the road.

“Let me down! Let go of me, you prick!” I screamed, hair in my face as I battered against his back. “Carter!”

I kicked and thrashed, but he pulled my knees tight against his chest, locking them in place, carrying me as easily as if I were a sack of flour, back toward his ridiculous, fancy car. I might as well have been clawing at a brick wall.

Carter pressed a button on his keys and the back trunk opened. My eyes widened as I realized with horrifying certainty what he was about to do.

“Don’t you dare!” I warned.

Carter didn’t listen.

He swung me from his shoulder, somehow managing to get me into the trunk without tossing me. I moved fast, pushing myself up, but he ripped something from the bottom of the hatch and slammed it shut before I could force my way out.

I was trapped.

He fucking put me in his trunk.

I was so fucking mad I could have spat fire.

“You can’t just kidnap me!”

If he heard me, he ignored it.

I felt around in the dark, searching for the trunk release and groaning loudly in frustration when I realized that was what he’d ripped off the hatch before locking me in here.

“Carter!”

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