He should’ve just asked for me to earn my protection. God knows, the only skills I have are when I’m on my back.
I wash my face, the cold chill sweeping away the weakness.
I knew I was a burden to him. I knew. And still, he adamantly denied it.
Lied.
My pulse hammers with anger. With the need to fight. But the person I want to battle with isn’t here.
I return to my room, slide on a pair of sneakers, scoop my hair into a high pony, and tiptoe back into the open living area. Hunter and Sarah are still watching the movie, the sound loud enough to drown out my approach to the kitchen.
“I should check on her.” Sarah pauses the television.
“Why?” Hunter snatches the remote and presses play. “A woman like that isn’t going to be cut up over a guy getting laid. I’m sure the last thing she wants to think about is sex.”
A woman like that.
A damaged, sexually abused woman.
He’s right. Someone like me shouldn’t be gutted at the thought of their protector seeking solace with someone else. My thoughts are just another vicious layer of damage.
“She likes him,” Sarah replies. “If you would’ve seen them together over the last week, you’d agree with me. She’s smitten. And he can’t get away fast enough.”
Oh, God.
I clench my stomach as I reach the island counter, holding in a sob.
I’m a joke. A fucking punchline.
All this time I never knew.
I slide my hand over the marble, my palm covering Hunter’s keychain and the attached car fob.
I have to face my fear of the outside world and escape this fake environment. I’ll take his car. Drive far, far away. Then… I don’t know.
I’ll think of something. All I know is that I can’t stay here.
I drag the treasure toward me, the slightest clink announcing my robbery.
I pause, but it’s too late.
The movie stops and Hunter glances over his shoulder. “What are you doing?”
I freeze. Panic. After a lifetime spent lying to protect myself, I’m at a loss for words.
“Penny?” Sarah asks.
I inch my hand behind my hip and shrug. “I thought I felt hungry. But now that food is in front of me I’ve changed my mind again.” I give a chuckle that sounds too brittle. “I might take a shower and have an early night instead.”
I slowly retrace my steps toward the hall, not meeting their gazes even though their combined focus burns holes through me.
“Penny,” Hunter grates. “Show me your hands.”
I flinch, my body’s involuntary reaction a glaring red flag as I move closer and closer to the hall.
“Show me your hands,” he repeats, his hulking frame rising from the sofa.
My heart lodges in my throat.
“Penny,” he warns.
I run.
I don’t stop when I hear him curse. I push faster, only pausing to fling open the front door before scampering outside. I sprint across the icy lawn to the huge black suburban parked in the driveway, clicking the buttons on the fob until the indicators flash bright into the fading daylight.
Freedom is within reach. Frightening, isolating freedom.
I yank open the car door as Hunter explodes from the house, Sarah following behind.
“Don’t even think about it,” he yells.
He’s right. The time for thinking is over.
I climb into the tank of a car, tug the door shut, and lock it as both of them barrel toward me.
There’s so much panic. I can’t think straight through my pounding pulse, my shaking limbs.
It’s been years since I sat behind the wheel. Everything is foreign. The push start. My foot on the pedal. I don’t even bother to figure out how to move the seat forward in an effort to help me drive properly. There’s no time.
I press the button ignition. The engine rumbles to life. Hunt reaches my door, tugging at the handle, banging on the window.
“Open up,” he warns. “Get out of my goddamn car.”
“Penny, please,” Sarah tries to soothe me. “We can talk.”
There’s no turning back now. Not when Hunter’s expression bleeds with anger—fierce eyes and snarled teeth.
I shift the car into reverse and press my foot on the accelerator. The car launches, the movement far more vicious than I anticipated.
I squeal, clutching the wheel tight as the vehicle bounces onto the road.
Both of them run after me, Hunter reaching the passenger side to pound on the window with a closed fist, his eyes promising retaliation.
I should be scared. I’ve seen that look before. I’ve had it bear down on me from