I thought seeing her vulnerable with half-torn clothes in the alley three years ago was enough for me to turn rogue.

This...this was enough for me to commit fucking murder.

Chapter Thirteen

Elle

I SCREAMED.

How could I not?

When a man who you’d just eaten lunch with, grew up with, someone you watched turn from boy to grown-up suddenly takes away all control and prepares to rape you—all common sense, conversation skills, and bartering flies out of comprehension.

I gave up pain and precaution.

I felt nothing but wildness and terror.

“Stop!” I kicked. I wiggled. I clawed at the couch.

“All it takes is for you to be nice to me, Elle. And this can go so much better for you.”

The promise whispered in my head to do something. To be generous with compliments if it meant he wouldn’t hurt me. But I physically gagged on such blasphemy.

He stroked my back, running his fingers over my naked hips as he wedged his jeans-clad cock against me. He didn’t move to unzip, but it didn’t stop his hardness from sending disgust gushing through my blood.

A shadow fell over the floor for the briefest second, wrenching my eyes to the window where sun spilled upon my ruin.

Perhaps a fellow vacation-maker had come to borrow a cup of sugar. Maybe a fisherman needed to dig in the garden for some worm-bait. Hopefully, some good Samaritan was here to save me.

I opened my mouth to scream again, but Greg slammed his sweaty palm over my lips.

“Be nice, and we go into the bedroom.” He fumbled with his belt with his other hand. “Don’t, and you’re mine right here.”

My heart atrophied at the sounds of leather unbuckling.

I’m running out of time.

Do something.

Think.

Kick. Fight. Bite. Scream.

Anything!

The shadow came again, quick and fleeting, but I caught what made it this time. The barest glimpse of an angel come to free me.

I didn’t believe it.

I couldn’t believe it.

It wasn’t a fisherman or a bird or even a confused bear out for a stroll.

It was so much better.

So much worse.

My heart grew wings even as heavy tar coated it. Greg undid his jeans. The sensation of denim switched to bare male flesh.

I moaned behind his palm, tossing my head.

The figure in the window appeared again, this time closer to the front door. His tussled dark hair scattered stencils on the floor.

Him.

The liar.

The alley abuser.

The man I had feelings for despite everything.

He ducked again.

Did he know I’d seen him?

Did he know I was grateful?

What would he do?

How had he found me and not David or Dad?

My questions evaporated as Greg’s hard cock lined up with my ass. He shuddered, his hand clenching around my mouth while his other yanked my hips into him.

He was moments away from taking me.

So I did the only thing I could.

I chose survival over pride.

I decided to lie just like Penn.

Letting my body go loose, I forced my ass against him, rubbing his erection, deliberately arching my back as if being fucked by him was exactly what I wanted.

My body hated, hated me.

My heart cursed, cursed me.

And my lips didn’t know how to form the falsehoods I was about to spill.

His hand tumbled from my mouth in shock, giving me freedom to speak.

“Mmm, Greg.” My sultry moan made my skin scratch itself with knives. “You’re right...I’m so—” I rocked into him, making him groan and fingers spasm “—so sorry.”

He froze, his thighs twitching against the back of mine. “What did you just say?”

I kept my voice slow and decadent—like chocolate and liquor and rich, rich coffee. “I said you’re right. I should be nicer to you.” I rolled my hips, dragging a revolting pant from him and a coil of nausea from me. “If you let me stand and face you, I’ll show you how nice I can be.”

My tongue burned with lies.

My throat slashed with fibs.

Was this how Penn felt every time he talked to me?

Greg nudged me with his hips, keeping me pinned against the couch. “Why should I trust you? You’ve been nothing but a bitch since we got here.”

I jingled the chain around my wrists. “I’m yours, remember? I’m not going anywhere.” I let my body go completely submissive. “It’s time I listened to what you’re offering rather than destroy what we could have together without giving it a chance.”

Lies, lies, lies.

I wanted to vomit with lies.

I wanted to wash away the lies.

I wanted to bleach the lies.

Greg slowly relaxed. He stepped back, giving me room to stand.

I took one last look at the window. A slight shadow appeared closer to the door. Penn was many things, but I trusted him to help me. He’d come for me in his car that night. He’d fought for me in the club at the beginning. He would get me free, and then I’d politely thank him and walk away.

All I needed to do was keep Greg distracted enough, so it was an ambush rather than a full-on fight.

I didn’t need more complications in my life by turning this abduction into death or bloodshed. Regardless of what Greg had done, the law would deal with him, not vigilante justice.

Standing upright, I pushed the negligée down my hips for coverage and turned to face him.

The only problem was he had a full view of the door where Penn would most likely come in.