Prologue

PROLOGUE

Eleven Months Ago

The bitter January wind cut through Jessica’s thin jacket, biting into her skin as she trudged up the long gravel driveway. Snow crunched under her worn shoes, each step sinking into the frozen earth, leaving a trail of hesitant footprints behind her.

The Ranch stretched out ahead, the wide sprawling land blanketed in white, and for the first time in weeks, Jessica’s head was silent. Peaceful. She wasn’t sure if the quiet comforted her or made her more aware of her memories and the noise that usually bombarded her thoughts.

She shivered, pulling the jacket tighter around her thin frame. The cold wasn’t helping. She’d been malnourished for months, and the bruises from her last birthday—her eighteenth—still throbbed beneath the layers of clothing. Every time she moved, she felt them: sharp reminders of why she’d fled, why she couldn’t go back. Her parents’ abuse had left more than just physical scars.

Rawhide Ranch was supposed to be a refuge, a place where people came to heal. It sounded almost too good to be true. Jessica had stopped believing in safety a long time ago, but now, standing on the threshold of something new, she couldn’t help but cling to the fragile hope that maybe—just maybe—this place could be different.

She could see her breath puffing out in white clouds in front of her, and the warmth of the building she was approaching seemed like a distant promise. Her fingers trembled, not just from the cold, but from the fear that gnawed at her insides. Her whole body felt brittle, like one more blow would shatter her entirely.

The door opened before she could knock—not that she should be surprised, as she’d had to sign in with the guard at the gate. He’d even assured her that he could have someone come get her but she’d declined. The walk would allow her time to gather her thoughts as well as her courage. Still, she was startled when a large, tall figure stepped out on the porch, broad-shouldered and wrapped in a thick coat. His presence was immediately overwhelming. Jessica’s heart raced, her feet freezing in place as her gaze flickered up to meet his. He was huge—far too much like her father—and the instant rush of fear threatened to swallow her whole.

But then, a second figure appeared—smaller, softer. A woman, her face framed by wisps of dark hair escaping from her woolen hat, stepped forward, a welcoming smile already forming on her lips.

“Jessica?” The woman’s voice was warm, a contrast to the freezing air that still bit at Jessica’s skin. “I’m Sadie, and this grumpy man is Master Derek, my Daddy.” She glanced over at the man, who stayed rooted on the porch, his hands stuffed in his jeans pockets, his gaze calm but unreadable.

Jessica’s heart pounded in her ears. Derek. The Ranch owner. No one to be afraid of. He was supposed to be her safe haven, the man who would ensure she wouldn’t have to face abuse at her parents’ hands anymore. But no matter what she told herself, she could feel the panic rising in her chest. Her body trembled, not just from the cold, but from the weight of old memories.

Master Derek was too tall, too broad, and even though he wasn’t doing anything threatening, his very presence sent her mind spiraling.

Sadie must have sensed it. She moved forward, placing herself between Master Derek and Jessica, her smile never faltering. “You’re okay,” she breathed, reaching out a hand, but not touching her, giving Jessica the space she so desperately needed. “You’re safe now. Daddy would never hurt you. We’ve got your room all ready for you. Come inside now. It’s freezing out here.”

Jessica hesitated, her eyes darting between the two of them, but Sadie’s calm voice and kind eyes drew her in. Slowly, she nodded, her stiff legs finally carrying her toward the warmth of the building.

The moment she stepped inside, the cold melted away, replaced by the heat from the crackling fireplace and the smell of something sweet—freshly baked cookies and hot chocolate, maybe? Jessica’s stomach growled quietly, and she felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. She had eaten little more than scraps in days and didn’t even have any money left in her wallet, and now these people were apparently going to take her in, give her a roof over her head and feed her. It was too much. Way too good to believe.

The large reception area felt inviting and homey, in a way she hadn’t known in years, if ever. But it also felt foreign, and along with her feelings of inadequacy, Jessica wasn’t sure if she belonged here.

Sadie’s soft voice broke through her thoughts. “Let me take your jacket, Jessie. It’s okay if I call you Jessie, right?” she asked gently, helping Jessica slip out of the threadbare coat. As the sleeves rolled down, Sadie’s eyes lingered on the yellowed bruises still lining Jessica’s arms. Jessica tensed, ready for the pity or the questions she expected.

But Sadie didn’t press. She simply nodded, her expression softening with understanding. “We’ll take good care of you here, Jessie,” she said quietly. “Daddy runs the Ranch, but you’ll have me to show you the ropes, and Nanny J will help to look after you. She might look fierce and can be very strict, but she’s very good about knowing where a Little’s limits are. You’ll be safe here, I promise.”

Jessica’s eyes flickered to Master Derek, who had stepped inside the door. He stood quietly by the enormous fireplace, keeping his distance but watching with the kind of attention that made her feel like he saw far more than she was comfortable showing. But there was something different about his gaze—something not at all like her father’s cold, calculating eyes. Master Derek seemed patient. Understanding. Like he was waiting, ready to step in only if she needed him to.

“Your roommate is excited to meet you. I’m sorry we didn’t have a single room available, but it’s nice and warm,” Sadie continued, pulling Jessica’s focus back. “And some food. You’ve got to be starving.”

Jessica nodded, though her throat felt tight, and she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Sadie was worried about not having a single room ready for her, and here Jessica wasn’t even used to having a bed to herself, having slept on a grungy old mattress in the attic the last few years. Jessica’s hands trembled at her sides, still fighting the fear that clung to her like ice. Sadie’s kindness was so foreign, so unexpected, that it left her almost more off balance than Derek’s intimidating presence.

“Come on, let’s get you settled,” Sadie said, motioning for Jessica to follow her.

Master Derek stepped aside, making sure not to get too close. He moved with a deliberate caution that Jessica appreciated more than she could put into words. She wasn’t ready to be near him yet, but the fact that he understood that without her having to say anything made her feel... maybe just a little safer.

“Sadie, angel?” Master Derek spoke quietly to his wife. “See that she has the usual intake with Nanny J, will you?”

Derek turned back toward her and Jessica watched as he squatted so he was eye level with her. A small part of her noticed that he left enough space between them that she could escape if she became frightened.

“Little one,” he said softly, “you may not believe it, but you’re safe now. No one will hurt you again. You’re home.”

While Jessica took in his words, Sadie smiled and nodded before rushing to him and giving him a big kiss. After Master Derek straightened to his full height, Sadie then quickly returned to Jessica’s side, showing her the way.

As they moved deeper into the large, warm building, Jessica tried to fight back the tears that prickled at her eyes. These people… their words… this place—it all felt like this could be something she’d never had before.

A fresh start.

She just hoped she wouldn’t ruin it.