Page 83 of Ashes of Sin

You are mine, little P. Come home.

I might’ve become a monster, but I’mhermonster.

This time she needs to come to me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

KYRA

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I shower when I get upstairs to my room after finally listening to my parents rant and rave for hours. Dad dropped the caring parent act the moment we got in the car. But when Mom saw me, she was all over me like a nasty rash.

We haven’t always been super close, but she’s been an okay mom for the most part.

Still, I don’t remember getting so many hugs from her.

She was worried, I get it.

But I can’t tell them that Iwaskidnapped, as I have to stick to my story. The truth is it was a traumatizing experience. But it was also confusing.

My feelings for Maddox were changing by the minute before the cops turned up. I did take what they said to me seriously after giving my statement.

“If you change your mind and want to change it, you can. Stockholm syndrome can hit almost immediately. Survival makes us do and say many different things.”

Is that what it was?

“Mr. Sterling is a good-looking man, Ms. Fox,” a female officer said to me, smiling at me like I was pathetic. “And a powerful man. That’s quite the aphrodisiac.”

She has no idea.

“You would be excused for feeling like it was real.”

It was real.

Wasn’t it?

“So, if you have doubts or want to talk to us, you can. Here’s my card.”

Meanwhile, back home, Mom apologized a million times for forcing me to marry Pierce. My father slapped her in the end, leaving a bright red mark on her face.

“Youarestill marrying him.” He pointed at me.

“I know.” I nodded, then climbed the stairs, feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.

Depression.

I walked away from Maddox tonight. I couldn’t remain as hislittle prisoner,and I know he’ll never forgive me. His demands to go to him felt like a rope pulling on me. The anger in his eyes as I turned from him will forever be etched into my memory.

It feels weird to be home, standing in my own shower, using my own toiletries.

I know I wasn’t gone long, but being with Maddox changed me in ways I am still figuring out. My body clenches around his toy still inside me and stupid tears prick at my eyes.

Come here.

The way he can command my body is something no man will ever be able to replace. In fact, I don’t think I’ll feel the way I do about him with anyone else.

Maddox’s dark gaze as he filled me with his seed will be seared into my soul for eternity. Suddenly I burst into tears, dropping my face into my hands as the water runs over me.

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