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A man I trusted completely.

Nausea burns in my stomach, and bile sears the inside of my throat. He was there, though. He helped me. He installed the—“It was you,” I whisper, eyes widening. “The whole time, it was you.” My throat burns with emotion, betrayal stinging like acid against my heart. “No wonder the police couldn’t find the guy on the security tapes, because you were the one monitoring them.”

“Of course it was me! I tried to take care of you, Sadie; I really did.” He tosses the jackets to the side. “I love you. I am in love with you. And I know you love me, too.”

Stall. I have to stall. Because then Maverick will be here.

“What about Bella and the kids? How could you do this to them? To me?”

“Bella?” he laughs. “The only thing that spoiled witch cares about is the money. She never loved me. Never saw me like you did.”

“Like I did?”

“You always listened when I talked, Sadie. You did whatever I asked of you, and you never complained.” He takes another step closer.

So I move back. “You were my boss. It was my job to listen.”

He shakes his head, movements erratic as though the mask he’s worn for seven years slips away, revealing the monster that’s always been beneath. “It was more than that. I know you saw me, Sadie. Just as I saw you.”

The cold damp of that basement comes back to me.

The way it felt to be trapped.

To be owned.

“Maverick!” I scream and lunge to the side. I have to get out of here, have to get free.

“He can’t help you now!” Darren yells. “Stop pushing me away! You don’t have to be afraid of what’s between us! Don’t you see? We can be together now.”

“What did you do to him?” I demand.

“He’s just sleeping it off right now. But if you don’t come with me—” Darren stops speaking and reaches behind him to withdraw a large hunting knife. “I’ll kill him.”

No. Terror at the thought of Maverick’s death pushes the fear for myself aside. If Maverick really is going to be okay, then my first priority is getting Darren away from him.

Then, I’ll do whatever is necessary to escape.

Because I will not go back into that cellar.

I take a moment to breathe. To push the fear aside.

Lord, I know You are with me. I know You are mighty.

“He’s alive?”

“For now,” Darren snarls. “But that is easily remedied if you don’t listen.”

“I’ll listen,” I tell him. “But I want to see Maverick first. I want to know that he’s okay. Then, I’ll go with you.”

Darren glares at me. “No games.”

“No games,” I repeat. “Please. Let me make sure he’s okay?”

Darren considers, then nods. “Fine. Then go.”

As I move forward, then try to inch around him, he grabs a fistful of my hair and yanks me toward him. Pain shoots through my head and down into my neck.

“Make a single move I don’t approve of, and I’ll make you watch me kill the bartender, you hear me?”