15. Lily

Why the fuck did I let him bring me in here?

The second he left, reality crashed over me hard. His taste still lingers on my tongue, intoxicating and maddening. But I can't afford to think like that. The man is insane—certifiably insane.

I need to get out of here. I pull on the bindings, testing them, hoping to slip my wrists free.

With desperation, I force my hands out and leap off the chair. I need to escape, clear my mind, and get some distance from the man who's twisted me so completely that I barely recognize myself.

There's a very dark part of me that wants Cade. Craves him. It's primal and scary, and I must get out of here before it takes over entirely.

He's a psychopath, for fuck's sake. A man so obsessed that he broke into my home, stalked me. There's no reality in which I should want him.

Rushing out of the tent, I check my surroundings to be sure he isn't hanging around, and then I rush through the quietest part of the carnival to evade him.

"Lilly, is that you?" A deep voice calls, making me freeze. When I turn around, I see Gareth walking toward me.

"Hey Gareth, funny to run into you twice in one day!"

He smirks. "Not really. This town is so fucking small." His eyes look glassy, and he smells of whiskey. "I was hoping to run into you, to be honest." He moves closer, and I realize how alone we are.

"You were?" I ask.

His eyes dip to my chest and cleavage, making me feel uncomfortable. Gareth is always so kind and friendly at the diner. "Yeah, how about we get out of here together?"

I shake my head. "I'm meeting Alice," I lie, glancing around to find an escape route as he's clearly drunk.

His jaw clenches. "Don't be a cock tease. You're always flirting with me in the diner." He steps closer, grabbing my wrist. "It's about time you actually put that mouth to good fucking use."

"Fuck you!"I spit, yanking my arm out of his grasp. "Don't be a asshole."

Gareth's eyes flash with rage, and he comes for me, grabbing me harder this time. "Speak to me like that again, and I'll gag you with my cock."

"Gareth, this isn't you. You're drunk. Let go of me."

He sneers at me. "You don't get to flirt with me at the diner and then say no when I want my dick sucked. That's not how this works."

I bring knee him in the balls, making him double over. Then I rush away, but he recovers faster than I expect. Suddenly, he has his hands on me, hauling me against the side of a trailer. "You'll pay for that."

The trailer's cold metal against my back sends shivers down my spine as Gareth presses into me, his breath hot and reeking of alcohol on my face. "You think you're so fucking smart, don't you?"His words are slurred, but his grip is iron. I feel my pulse hammering in my ears, panic and fury colliding in a visceral mix inside me.

"Let go of me, Gareth!"I hiss, my voice a raw whisper filled with a desperate edge. My hands claw at his arms, but he holds me firmly, a sinister smile spreading across his lips. His knee parts my legs, making my entire body tense with resistance.

"Not a chance, sweetheart,"he murmurs, leaning in to nuzzle my neck, his stubble scratching against my skin. I want to vomit; the intimacy is terrifying and repulsive. "You've been teasing me too long—I won't be made a fool of."

A deep roar makes my heart skip a beat. Suddenly, Gareth is knocked to the floor with one hard punch from Cade. His eyes are chaotic as he straddles Gareth and uses him as a punching bag.

Blood flies into the air, and I'm momentarily caught in morbid fascination, watching. His powerful fists land punch after punch, turning Gareth into a pulp. Cade doesn't stop. He's lost in the violence, and I've got a feeling he might murder Gareth. A thought that should have me ringing the police, but after what Gareth tried to pull…

I shake my head. No, he doesn't deserve to die. But instead of calling the cops, I bolt from the scene, my feet hitting the dirt hard as I weave through the crowd. People shout curses as I bump past them, but I don't stop to apologize. I need to get away from here. Away from Cade. Away from the dark thoughts rising to the forefront of my mind.

The lights and sounds of the carnival fade behind me as I burst onto the quiet street. My lungs burn, but I force my legs to keep pumping.I'mnot nearly far enough away yet.

I glance back to check if he's following me, but the street is empty. Still, I don't slow down. It feels like he could appear at any moment, covered in blood.

Up ahead, the run-down apartment building comes into view, sending a wave of relief through me.

Almost there. Almost safe.

My thighs ache, and my breath comes in ragged gasps, but I keep running, taking the steps two at a time. I fumble to fit my key in the lock with shaking hands.

Finally, the door swings open, and I fall inside, slamming it closed behind me. My back hits the wood, and I slide to the floor, chest heaving. I made it.

I'm away from Cade, who both terrifies and excites me. My mind is still spinning, trying to make sense of everything that happened. Gareth might be dead. Surely, he can't evade law enforcement for murder. If he does kill, the police will apprehend him.

I can only sit on the floor, trying to catch my breath and slow my racing heart. I made it home. I'm safe, at least for now.