Page 77 of Tempted By her Daddies

So maybe you need to make it so you don’t have to leave them. Why should you always sacrifice and lose?

Her breathing grew harsher and she worked on slowing it down.

“Little one?” Salem asked. “It’s all right. Hey, it’s okay.”

“She’s having a panic attack,” Alexei said.

“Here, hand her to me,” Salem said calmly.

She was shifted over onto Salem’s lap and his cedar and sandalwood scent surrounded her. “It’s all right, Little one. You’re fine. You’re not in this alone. We’re right here.”

But she still felt so alone. Because she couldn’t tell them the truth of what was really going on with her.

They could never know. They would never forgive her.

However, perhaps it was time to start thinking about an exit plan.

Her plan had always been to die . . . but that was changing.

“Tamsyn. Look at me,” Roman told her firmly.

She glanced up immediately, staring at Roman. When he used that tone, it was like she had to listen.

“That’s a good girl,” he praised her. “I want you to squeeze my hands. Really tight.”

She shook her head. What was wrong with her? Her head was spinning, and she felt so weird.

“Hey, no. Eyes on me. Squeeze my hands. Tell me five things you can see.”

What? Why would she do that?

“You’re having a panic attack, darling girl. Just listen to me.”

“Make her breathe properly,” Alexei said urgently. “She’s going to pass out. Tamsyn, breathe.”

She was trying. Didn’t he think that she wanted to breathe normally? It just didn’t seem to be happening. Her breaths continued to come in sharp pants. Her heart was racing.

This was awful.

She didn’t have panic attacks.

Pathetic.

Useless.

“She’s hurting herself. Stop that!” Alexei barked.

She glanced down at her hands.

Oh, she must have been digging her fingernails into her palms. She hadn’t even noticed. She had a high pain tolerance.

“Little one, don’t do that,” Salem ordered as Roman grabbed her hands again. “Do not hurt yourself.”

“Doesn’t . . . hurt . . .” she managed to get out.

“It’s still unacceptable,” Roman told her. “Now, listen to me. Five things. Right now.”

Sheesh.

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