Page 41 of Sin Bin Bully

His thumb brushes away a tear from my cheek. "Because you're mine, Kim. And I protect what's mine."

I'm startled by the gentleness in Sam's touch as he strokes my hair, his fingers weaving through my braids with a tenderness I didn't think him capable of. My sobs gradually subside, replaced by hiccups and sniffles. I should pull away, should remember who he is and what he's done, but I can't bring myself to move.

"Come on, little dancer," Sam murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. "Let's get you to bed."

Before I can protest, he scoops me up in his arms like I weigh nothing. I instinctively wrap my arms around his neck, my face buried in the crook of his shoulder. He smells like expensive cologne and for some reason, it calms me.

"I can walk," I mumble half-heartedly.

"I know you can," he replies, his chest rumbling with a soft chuckle. "But you don't have to."

He carries me up the grand staircase, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. I should be plotting my escape, looking for weaknesses, but all I can focus on is the steady beat of his heart against my chest.

Sam pushes open a door with his foot, and we enter a room I've never seen before. It must be his bedroom. The space is massive, dominated by a bed bigger than a king with dark sheets.

He sets me down gently on the edge of the bed. "Arms up," he commands softly.

I comply without thinking, too exhausted to argue. And yeah…maybe I want someone to take care ofmefor once.

Sam tugs my shirt over my head, replacing it with one of his own. The fabric is soft against my skin, smelling of him.

"There," he says, his voice low. "Better?"

I nod, unable to meet his eyes. "Thanks," I whisper.

Sam climbs into bed beside me, pulling me against his chest. I should resist, should remember that he's my captor, not my savior. But right now, with his arms around me, I feel safe for the first time in years.

"It's going to be okay," he murmurs into my hair. "I'll take care of everything."

And the scariest part is, I believe him. For once, I don't have to be the strong one, the one holding everything together. I can just... be.

As I drift off to sleep, I hear Sam's voice, barely a whisper. "I've got you, Kim. Always."

19

SAM

Sam

Ipull up to Kim's apartment complex, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. The run-down building looms before me, a stark contrast to my usual surroundings. As I approach her unit, the thump of bass reverberates through the hallway. Fucking hell.

The door's wide open, and the stench of weed and cheap booze assaults my senses. I step inside, my jaw clenching at the sight before me.

The once-tidy apartment is a disaster zone. Bodies sprawl across every surface, some passed out, others in various states of inebriation. In the center of it all stands Nathan, Kim's piece of shit brother, holding court like some two-bit drug lord.

My fists clench at my sides. This fucker's using my little dancer's place as his personal crack den. My blood boils, and I have to resist the urge to start throwing punches.

"Hey!" I bark, my voice cutting through the cacophony. "What the fuck is going on here?"

Nathan turns, his glazed eyes widening as he recognizes me. "Well, well. If it ain't the big shot hockey player. What brings you to our humble abode?"

I stride forward, shoving aside a couple of strung-out junkies. "This isn't your place, you piece of shit. It's Kim's."

He laughs, a hollow sound that grates on my nerves. "Kim ain't here, man. Figured I'd put the space to good use."

My vision goes red. Before I know it, I've got Nathan by the collar, slamming him against the wall. The music cuts out abruptly, and suddenly all eyes are on us.

"Listen up, you lowlife scum," I growl, my face inches from his. "You've got five minutes to clear out of here. Anyone still here after that... well, let's just say you won't like what happens next."

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