Page 95 of Taint My Soul

Then his leg comes against the door. My body vibrates with panic. He kicks the door again. I drop my bags and move toward the window, looking down at the mowed field that surrounds the building. I climb onto the steel just as the door crashes open behind me, and I jump from the second floor, groaning as I land on both feet.

I don’t wait a second.

I get on my feet, adrenaline burning in my blood as I sprint into the forest. I don’t know where I’m going, but I keep running. I’d rather get lost than let him put his cursed hands on me ever again.

Branches claw at my clothes as I tear through the forest blindly, stumbling over roots hidden beneath the dark. I pick myself up and keep running. My lungs burn with panic and ragged breaths. Twigs snap violently beneath my feet, and sweat rolls down my temple, heart pounding against my chest. I don’t stop even when my muscles threaten to give out. I keep running until I storm out onto the road and my legs give out on their own.

But I regain my footing and sprint down the tarred path.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

MASON

Idon’t know what time it is, but I managed to make it far on foot, hitch a ride in a bus, and get all the way to Saint’s apartment.

It’s not ideal, but it’s the only place I can be safe. Ironic that I’m coming to the one man who acknowledges this part of me, even when I hate that he does.

And I vividly recall the conversation we had in the office.

I take it back.

As I pace inside the humming elevator, my blood boils with equal parts fear and anger. Memories surge into my thoughts. I place my hand against the steel wall of the elevator, shutting my eyes, and I try to push it all back, to seal it in a box.

But it’s not working.

I still see his face.

The extremely hideous smirk on his lips.

The anger blazing in his eyes.

I pound my palm against the wall and straighten my spine, pacing like a hungry wolf as the elevator ascends to Saint’s apartment.

What if he sends me away? What if he doesn’t want to see me? I wouldn’t blame him. I made him a promise and immediately went back on my word.

My heart aches with pain, and I clutch my chest, breathing through the nausea that rises to my mouth. My legs still strain from the torture of running over ten miles before I found a bus station.

The elevator dings when I arrive at the top of the building, and my heart lurches into my throat. As I step into the dimly lit apartment. I stagger toward the open living room, placing my hand against the top of the couch to steady myself.

The amber light floods in, burning harshly against my vision. Saint appears from his study with a gun in his grip. He lowers his steady arms when he sees me. My eyes blur in and out, and my enervated knees give out. The room twirls around me as I lose my balance and fall against the tiled floor.

When the room bleeds back in, I’m lying against the soft mattress of a king-sized bed, and Saint sits on the chaise lounge at the side of the room. My gaze takes him in, and the pistol on the round table beside him. His nostrils flare as he looks at me. “What are you doing here?” He demands.

I try to sit up, but my legs still ache from the pain. I’m not sure I’d be able to walk for some days.

“You are not supposed to be here.” His voice tightens.

“I don’t know anywhere else to go.” I whisper, lying back on the bed and inhaling sharply.

“We can’t keep lying to ourselves…”

“I know what I said.” My jaw sets as I look at him.

“No.” He surges to his feet, expression scrunched with anger. I don’t look at him. I deserve whatever hateful words he’ll say to me. “You can’t come to me when it’s convenient for you.”

“I know.” I sniffle. “I ran from him.”

He pauses and looks at me, a protective armor falling over his features. “Is it your uncle?”