Chapter 10

Sadie

“ A h!” I yelped as cold water splashed my stomach and legs. The shower was still not hot enough. I stepped out of the tub and waited a little longer for the water to warm up. Once curls of steam crept over the rose-gold shower curtain, I hopped back in, letting the hot water soak my hair and back.

Today was a much-needed day off. With the hype of the new releases finally dying down, I wasn’t working ten hours a day at the bookshop. Mason sincerely appreciated my hard work and told me to take today and tomorrow off to rest. Which was perfect because I could finally catch up on my chores: cleaning my closets, deep cleaning all the bathrooms, and grocery shopping. I even managed to give Poe a bath, much to his chagrin.

After washing off a day’s worth of ink, sweat, and grime, I shut off the water and stepped out. I grabbed my soft towel and wrapped it tightly around my body before something caught my eye on the bathroom counter next to my contacts.

Something I was sure was not there before .

Is that … an earring?

Next to the sink was a silver star-shaped earring with a black gem at the center. I picked it up to examine the trinket when something else sent cold fear skidding down my spine. It looked like the tip of someone’s finger had drawn a small heart against the steamed-up mirror.

I swallowed, my hands trembling slightly. “Brian?” I called out.

Did he cancel his trip and come to surprise me? I saw that he had returned the spare key he had been using these last two weeks under the mat.

I carefully placed the earring back down and pulled the bathroom door open slightly, the steam flowing into the cooler bedroom air. I scanned the area, taking deep breaths to calm my pounding heart.

“Brian?” I called out again, much louder that time.

I went to my nightstand and grabbed my phone, pressing the home button—but it was turned off. Another wave of terror filled my stomach. When I undressed for the shower, my phone still had at least thirty percent of battery life. I checked for the charger I had plugged into my lamp, but it was gone.

“Shit,” I cursed under my breath as panic joined the fear in a twisted dance. I looked toward the open bedroom door. “Brian, is that you?!”

Silence answered. The house was quiet, too quiet.

Dark … too dark.

Someone’s in the house.

As quietly as possible, I ran to the dresser and pulled out underwear and black workout shorts before going to the closet. I carefully opened the door, checking for hidden intruders before snatching a red tank top from the wood hanger. I quickly dressed and pulled my hair back into a wet bun before going back to the dresser. Opening the right top drawer, I found my black metal pocket knife, which I kept close for protection.

I snatched it up, flipping the blade free, and gripped the hilt with enough force to hurt. With how much I was shaking, I worried I would drop it. I went to the bedroom door, peering around to search the dark hallway.

“Brian, if that’s you, you better say something!” I shouted as I stepped out into the hall. Silence greeted me again, and I swallowed hard against the icy fear coating my nerves. Brian wasn’t here; I knew that. I had to get out. Climbing out the bedroom window was not an option, as the tree outside was too far away, and the drop would shatter my ankles. I needed to get downstairs and out the front door.

I shut off the lights when I got home because I planned to crash after the shower. Now, I couldn’t risk turning them on, as it would give away my location to whoever was inside. They would catch me before I could make it out.

Growing up, I learned how to avoid my father whenever he was in a foul mood and looking for a punching bag. I became adept at sneaking down hallways and stairs to avoid his wrath. However, regardless of how quiet I was, I cried every time. Even now, hot tears were streaming down my face as I crept down the hall to the stairs. My eyes scanned for unusual shadows, and my ears strained for creaks in the floor.

I had lived in fear for over a year, knowing that I had put a dangerous man behind bars. Not only that, but I incurred the wrath of his family—his father, brothers, and cousins—who were far more vicious and ruthless than Keelan ever was. He may be in prison, but that didn’t mean someone loyal to the Blake family couldn’t act on his orders to kill me. I didn’t want to believe they’d found me, but my mind’s rational, cold side scolded me for thinking anything else. Someone left a star earring on my counter, and that was way too fucking personal.

My knife shook in my hand, but I steeled myself for the possibility that I would have to kill whoever was in my house. As I moved down the stairs, the wooden steps seemed to shriek my arrival through the house, signaling the intruder that I was close. The house was so old that every step moaned with age. My teeth ground together as I tried to hurry down without more creaks and cracks of traitorous wood. After what felt like an eternity, my feet touched the living room carpet.

“Poe?” I whispered, praying he’d listen for once and come to me. I couldn’t leave my cat behind. I needed to make sure he was safe. “Come here, little man.” Of course, Poe wasn’t sleeping on the couch like usual. He may have been in the garage, where he liked to sneak into, which could work in my favor. If I could bolt to the kitchen and grab my car keys, I could catch him and get in the car. The house was too isolated in the woods for me to escape on foot. If someone were chasing me, I’d have nowhere to go safely.

I was not about to be hunted down in the woods and killed like some bimbo in a horror film.

As I eased toward the kitchen, I checked for movement behind the couch or curtains. I didn’t need someone sneaking up behind me. The only light source in the kitchen was the moonlight beaming through the window by the sink .

They’re hiding somewhere down here. I need to get to the mudroom now!

My keys were on the counter’s edge, and the mudroom was a direct shot to the garage. Mason had been using it for storage, so I kept my car outside, but the side door opened next to it. I could escape that way.

I needed to move faster.

Suddenly, a low trill came from around the corner of the mudroom, and I had to clap my hand over my mouth to stifle the yelp in my throat.

Poe. There was the little sneak.

My heart was thudding so hard against my ribs that I couldn’t catch my breath. I leaned down and scooped Poe into my left arm, slinging his slender body over my shoulders so I could keep both hands free. Once he and I made it outside, I could open the car and toss him inside before we drove off to get the police.

Ten steps to the mudroom …

Nine …

I calculated each step to go to the counter and then to the garage.

Two more quick steps.

Seven. My keys were within reach. I scooped them up, squeezing the keys between my fingers.

I took a long stride, covering the ground as fast as possible. The door to the garage was in sight, but when I crossed the threshold, Poe slipped a little, his black and white paw knocking into my arm. The knife fell onto the floor and skidded away from me.

“Shit,” I cursed, carefully adjusting Poe back on my shoulders. I couldn’t kneel to grab the knife, or Poe would jump off, costing me time. I turned back to the door, and all the air in my lungs left me as I stared into beautiful, familiar blue eyes.

Oh, my God. No, it can’t …

“Keelan?” His name left my lips in a trembling whisper.

How … he can’t be here … how?

My mind reeled as I took a step back toward the kitchen. Poe jumped down from my shoulders and darted off into the darkness. I squeezed the keys harder in my hand. At least Poe got away so that Keelan wouldn’t hurt him. I couldn’t see the knife anywhere on the floor, but I would go down fighting if I had to; I would gouge out his eyes.

“Easy,” Keelan said, his voice low and eerily calm.

“Get away from me!” I screamed, terror leaking into my voice. “Now!”

The tears were back, leaving scorched marks in their wake, and I bit back a hard sob. Keelan was here to kill me; my peace was over.

Keelan lunged for me, and I shrieked again, swinging my keys forward. The house key slashed across his hands, but it didn’t stop him. He wrapped his tatted arms around my waist, pulling me further into the kitchen. I frantically looked around before grabbing the pan I had used that morning, silently thanking my scatterbrain for leaving it out for later. I gripped the handle and swung it behind me. The pan cracked hard against Keelan’s skull.

He cursed and fell back, releasing his grip on me just enough for me to slip from his hold and run to the front door. The door was locked, but not just the handle. The remaining three bolts that I had put in place were securely shut.

“Shit. Shit. Shit!” I frantically unlocked each one .

I had one left, but I didn’t even touch it before Keelan wrapped his arms around my waist again from behind and hoisted me up in the air.

“Let me go!” I kicked my legs out, wriggling my body so I could slip out from the crushing hold he had around me. He didn’t even budge or flinch; he was too strong. My nails dug into his hands, leaving behind thin trails of blood as I fought to break free. “Keelan! Stop!” My cries echoed through the hall as he forcefully sat me down, slamming my back into the wall. I felt trapped, pinned by his firm grip on my throat. He squeezed slightly, just enough to warn me to stop resisting. His body caged mine, and I couldn’t slide my leg up to kick him in the balls. He had me trapped.

“My, my, sweet Sadie. You have some fight in you. Honestly, that’s a good thing. You were always so docile. Afraid. I like this side instead.”

“Fuck you!” I cursed, but that only caused his face to harden, his eyes turning dark, and his fingers seized my throat, cutting off my air.

“Hmm, that wasn’t what you were saying last night when you were fucking your little toy. In fact, now that I have you pinned against me, maybe we can recreate that moment for you. The one you’re going to pretend you didn’t want. The one where you’ll pretend you weren’t picturing my face as you came.”

My eyes grew wide with horror. Keelan was in my room. Oh, my God.

I dug my nails into his wrist. “You’re … sick,” I seethed as my air dwindled. All Keelan did was smile at my struggle, showing his perfectly straight, white teeth. He leaned closer, pressing his chest against mine. His intoxicating scent flooded my nose. The smell I remembered from so long ago, from when we first started hooking up. It was my weakness. He was my weakness. A beautiful devil painted like a canvas, drawing me into his dark embrace.

The grip on my throat lessened, allowing me to take a shallow breath. Keelan stroked a loose, damp curl that had come loose from my bun.

“I like the red in your hair; it suits you,” he murmured.

I blinked. “Wha … what?”

The way his voice flipped from cold and cruel to … kind. Keelan’s demeanor completely shifted into something else. For a moment, I found myself lost in the lie, drowning in his captivating voice.

The song of a monster.

“Are you going to kill me?” I asked though I knew the answer. I was the reason why they locked him up for life. He’d been a prisoner for the last year. Of course, he was here to take revenge.

“Mmm,” he growled. He actually growled while biting his bottom lip, making it clear that I was his prey and he could devour me at any moment. “Not yet,” he said.

Right. Keelan came all this way to track me down just to talk about my hair color.

“What do you want, then?” I asked, pressing my hand against his chest—a feeble attempt to create more space, but he wouldn’t budge. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.”

No, I wasn’t sorry. Keelan sliced a man’s throat in front of me and deserved to be locked away. But I had to say anything to placate him. To walk out that door alive.

A million questions floated in my mind as he stared into my eyes. How did he get out of prison? Was he released? Was his family right outside the door, waiting for him to drag me out so they could help him dispose of my body?

Suddenly, the tip of his other hand, the one that wasn’t wrapped around my throat, touched my chest, a ginger touch that sparked a warm, confusing feeling deep in my gut. He slowly dragged his finger down to the center of my sternum, and I stiffened.

What is he doing?

Keelan then slid my tank top straps down my shoulders, and my breath hitched.

“Keelan,” I said, but my voice came out breathy, cutting off the rest of what I wanted to say.

“Yes, princess?” he said. That was the nickname he gave me after our parents forced us to get engaged. He annoyingly used it often, typically preceded by the words “spoiled little,” belittling me as a brat who always got her way.

How little he knew. I never had a choice in my goddamn life.

My fucking family made every choice for me. Every decision was in the hands, or fists, of my asshole father. Until my escape, my mom did little to stop his tyranny, and my brother was long gone.

Keelan’s grip tightened a little more when I moved my head to the side, trying to ignore the growing wetness between my thighs. His finger moved lower, pausing at the hem of my shorts.

“Don’t play fucking games with me, Keelan,” I snapped, despite the lack of air. “What the hell are you trying to do? If you’re going to kill me, just do it. Don’t touch me like you missed me.”

Keelan’s grin broadened, having the audacity to smile. “You act like you’re afraid of me, and rightfully so. But maybe I can help you relax … like you did last night while I hid under your bed, stroking my cock as you cried out my name. ”

What a fucking psycho, I thought, except there was a slight flip in my stomach at that, though. God, my thoughts were just as screwed up as his were. Now that he was impossibly close, I didn’t want to utter a single word. His hand pulled at the hem of my shorts, and his fingers slid underneath, inching further, touching my wetness. Keelan only prodded gently at first, like he wanted to get a reaction out of me, but I wasn’t about to give him one.

My body, however, didn’t get the memo. It arched involuntarily against his fingers as Keelan slid inside of me.

Closing my eyes, I tried to go somewhere else as he fucked me with his fingers, his warm breath now caressing my ear, but I couldn’t. It was his face that I saw as he moved in long, rough strokes that hit all the right places. I sunk my teeth into my lip, not wanting to make a single sound. My body had betrayed me enough already.

“How often do you do that?” he asked. “Fuck yourself while you think of me?”

I shook my head, not wanting to answer those questions. Hell, it was hard to focus on them in the first place with the way pleasure was spreading through me. I hated that this, as fucked up as it was, was still the thrill I sought.

“Last night, I came on your carpet while under your bed,” he continued. “I thought about straddling you while you slept, jerking off again until I came all over your naked chest, but I convinced myself that would probably be a bad idea. Taking you by surprise and chasing you down the hall was much more fun.” He leaned forward until his lips touched my ear. “Pulling the soiled condom from the trash and leaving you an earring with a little heart-shaped note on the mirror—painting the scene to make you paralyzed with fear.”

My eyes widened. Jesus Christ.

His movements sped up, pumping me faster while my chest heaved. I tipped my head back as pleasure rippled through me. I tried desperately to keep the sensation at bay, but it was pointless. My body was betraying me in the vilest ways. Keelan was a killer. I shouldn’t want this.

Damn him. The psycho knew exactly what I liked. Exactly what I craved. A shudder rolled through my body as my pussy continued to throb around his fingers, more intensely with each passing second, until I could no longer hold back.

It wasn’t long before my orgasm consumed me. My whole body trembled as I cried out, right as Keelan’s hand squeezed my throat. It was just like in the past when we fucked, pinning me down and keeping me where he wanted to as he made me come.

“Fuck, Sadie,” he cursed. “You’re such a good girl. I practically came in my jeans just from your moans alone.”

A sudden guilt wrapped around me, and my cheeks flushed, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over me when the realization of what had just happened settled. It was even more fucked up as Keelan pulled his hand out of my pants and proceeded to lick his fingers, tasting me.

“Now,” he said as he stepped back, giving us a small amount of space, just enough for me to catch my breath and process what the fuck just happened, “tell me where I can find some rope.”

His gaze was as intense as ever, drinking in the sight of me. It was like he was observing every inch of my body, but something about his expression changed as his gaze landed on my throat, illuminated by the soft light from the moon outside the front door window. Keelan trailed his finger over the side of my neck—weirdly soft compared to what he had just done.

“I’m pretty fucking good at choking that delicate neck of yours without leaving marks, Sadie.” His eyes turned more darkly intense as he continued to stare at the bruises on my neck—the marks that Brian accidentally left me. “How the fuck did you get these?”