Page 36 of Every Time My Heart Breaks

She nodded and her chin trembled. “I’d like that.”

I grinned. “Yeah, I figured you might.”

Then I stood and returned to the table, scouring it for something to pick the lock. “You didn’t, by chance, see the key for those locks anywhere, did you?”

“No. I…I was unconscious when he stripped and locked me up.”

My stomach tightened, and I glanced at her, aching to know if he’d…if he had raped her. But there was no way in hell I could actually ask. Besides, if she’d been unconscious for that long, wouldsheeven know?

Motherfucker.

I didn’t like this.

When I couldn’t find a key anywhere on the table, I slapped my palm down on it and cursed.

Chloe sucked in a startled breath, and I glanced over at her, wishing she didn’t have to go through this.

“I can’t find a key,” I admitted, feeling like a failure. “I’m going to go upstairs and find one, okay?”

But she shook her head, her one good eye glassy with renewed fear. “No,” she told me in no uncertain terms, her voice steady and commanding. “Don’t you dare leave me.”

And I almost lost it right there, bursting into tears and losing my shit completely.

9CHLOE

Luke looked visibly shaken when he winced, and he swallowed as if he’d just ingested razor blades. But then he met my gaze from the table that he was still leaning on and pressing his hands against.

“I’m not leaving,” he assured as he straightened. “I’m just going to go get help. Trick’s up there. I’ll be right back.”

“No.” I didn’t care. He was here now, and I couldn’t lose that. “Don’t leave me,” I repeated.

“Chloe,” he growled sternly. “I can’t stay here and help you. I need to go find something to help break you free.”

“Someoneelsecan break me free,” I tried. “Youstay. Don’t leave me.”

“I’ll be right back,” he swore.

But I screamed, “No!” at the top of my lungs. Then breathing hard, I added, “What if he comes back?”

Luke sounded way too reasonable when he shook his head and answered, “I won’t be gone long enough for him to—”

And it was more than I could take.

“Lucian Michael Hamilton,” I cut in harshly. “If you leave me right now, I will never forgive you. Do you hear me? I will hate you until my dying breath.Don’t…leave me like this. Don’t leave me. Please… Oh my God, you can’t leave me. Please…”

“Fucking hell,” he growled. “I can’t help you if I stay here, Chloe. I need to help you.”

I shook my head. “Please, no.” I started to lose control of my erratic breathing, and I felt my grasp on my emotions slipping next. Tears filled my eyes.

“Christ.” Luke huffed out a breath, then lifted his hands in surrender. “Alright, fine. I’ll stay.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head. “Please don’t leave me,” I whispered, pretty sure I couldn’t stop repeating that phrase now if I wanted to.

“I won’t,” he said, and when I felt his fingers touch mine, I opened my eyes to find him sitting on his knees in a shallow puddle next to me. “Just…calm down,” he murmured, squeezing my hand in reassurance. “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Please don’t leave me,” I answered, but in a tone that told himthank you for staying.

He nodded, looking into my eyes. “I’m right here.”

---