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I turn around, standing in front of her in only a bra and joggers, where she’s stood, her hands protectively cradling her belly. “I don’t know. It’s what I’m trying to find out but—” I blow out a breath. “I’m getting married tonight, Cassie.”

“To Kain?”

The words ‘I wish’ dance around on my tongue.

I shake my head, my teeth trapping my bottom lip and gnawing at it.

Her cheeks hollow. “Jord, I… I can’t go back home.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been living with Dorrian in a motel just on the outskirts. My parents can’t find out I’m pregnant, they can’t—”

“I know you’re scared.” I grip her hands in mine, but as I say the words, my stomach clenches painfully. “But your parents will understand, they’re amazing people.”

There’re tears lining her eyes and it doesn’t take long for the first one to fall. I wipe it with my bunched-up T-shirt.

“I’m so scared, Jordie.” Her voice is barely a whisper. “They’re still part of the church.”

“I know.” My lip trembles. “Go, Cassie. Go back home. But you need to go right now. It’s where you’ll be the safest…”

She pulls me in tightly and I make sure to keep a space between mine and her stomach.

I try not to let my own tears escape as I watch her retreat towards the door, not knowing when I’m going to see her next. But what I do know is I have three people to protect, and I will do my best to.

She looks at me in the open doorway of my room. “I trust you.” She rubs a hand over her belly.

“Go.” My voice almost breaks.

Once she leaves, I plod over to my bed where a garment cover lays, ready for me.

The zip grates at my ears as I slowly pull it down, revealing the pearly white, airy tulle material that immediately brings a sick feeling to my stomach. I stop midway through, not being able to bring myself to go further. I can’t. Everything around me mutes, the wedding dress becoming unclear in my vision.

My body was always a negotiating table for them, and they all came armed with their hands and demands. Little do they know they've been taking my silence for submission. Tonight, they’ll learn what my silence is made of. Everything they’ve done to me led exactly to this night.

They unknowingly led themselves into my web. They no longer hold any power over me or my body.

An unexpected hand seats itself on my shoulder, and it’s a hand that I wish I didn’t recognise, but I do. It’s been in that exact spot enough times for my body to become familiar with it. I whirl on the culprit, his face a hazy shadow with the yellow light of the hallway beaming into my room, he’s merely a silhouette.

I can hear the monstrous smile in his voice as he says, “I can’t wait to see you in that tonight.”

I blink away the tears that are threatening to spill because I refuse to shed a single one in front of anyone, especially him. I’m no longer made of tears, I’m made of brimstone. Hard and hot.

Kain survived Lacey, I can survive Samuel too.

His fingertip strokes beneath my chin and I jerk away from him, but he captures my jaw roughly. “Do not look away from me.”

Now would be the perfect time to execute my plan, but I left the fucking knife in the bathroom after my shower.

I realise, though, while his leery eyes roam over my face, that we’re not at St Anton’s anymore. There’s no one really here to protect him from me. There’s no one here to cane my ass raw.

“Fuck. You,” I seethe.

He recoils, then tuts, roughly pulling my face into him until our bodies collide, and the disgusting evidence of his arousal collides with my stomach. “That’s no way to talk to your husband.” His voice is an amused coo.

“You are not my husband,” I spit.

I grip onto his wrist, drilling my nails into the sensitive skin. He grunts in pain, tightening his grip on my jaw. “Let go.”