Page 61 of ’Til You Break

“I have faced it.” I turn my hand in his until our fingers intertwine. “And that hasn’t gotten me anywhere.”

“What if I said I don’t want you to go?” His voice softens.

My heart aches.

Vik has become too good at hiding his emotions for them to show openly, but I’ve started noticing the tiny cracks.

“I’d stay a little longer,” I say, knowing it probably won’t change anything. “Starting with a long, hot bath while I relive everything we did last night.”

“That’s my girl.”

I slide off the side of the bed, careful not to disturb Muffin, and start looking for my panties. It probably says something about how comfortable I’ve become around Vik that I have no idea where they ended up. I scan the pile of clothes on the floor, but I don’t see them, so I crouch and begin sorting through everything.

As I lift his trousers...

Something slips from the back pocket.

Three pieces of black fabric.

Two gloves.

The third looks like a...

Mask.

I wouldn’t have thought twice about it... if it weren’t for the white lines across the black fabric.

So familiar. My stomach drops. For a second, I can’t breathe.

It takes every ounce of strength just to steady myself. Vik is still playing with Muffin. He hasn’t realized what I’ve found.

I take one unsteady step towards the door. I almost stumble on the second.

“Everything oka—” The sound of his voice detonates every instinct inside me.

I run.

I’ve got to get out of here.

Because Vik...

Vik is the masked man who’s been attacking people.

The man I’ve been terrified of.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Vik

Hmm.

Not good.

Even though Hannah is running, I still take the time to set Muffin down gently. I’ve become rather fond of the kitten, and I wouldn’t want him hurt because of a reckless decision. The moment he’s free from my hands, I launch myself off the bed and give chase.

Hannah hasn’t made it far when I reach the door. She’s crossing the space between my room and hers. Frightened by what she saw, she probably stumbled before she could find her footing again.

It doesn’t matter. She won’t get far enough.