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“No, they can take care of themselves. I have no doubt about that, but…” I hesitate. I just need her to be safe, but I don’t know how to say it.

“You don’t have to say anymore…consider it done. Get out of here. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I trust him like I trust my own family. He may not be blood but he’s my brother all the same. I nod in thanks and walk towards the stairs.

I take one final glance at her. Tom has got his arm around the back of her chair. I just need to get out of here before I break my promise to her. I get on my bike and tear through the streets of the busy city. Riding, it clears my head. I know I can go anywhere I want, whenever I want. It gives me freedom. Something that she doesn’t have. I head back to my apartment and pace my kitchen for hours.

I need to get those drives for her… and I will.

EMILIA

Ican still feel Kade’s touch. It’s all I’ve been able to think about all night, lying here on Cara’s couch. I still feel his mouth on mine, his tongue and his fingers. I have never felt anything like that before. I crave him. I need more. Cara grilled me for two hours, and I told her everything. I’m going to get the exact same interrogation tomorrow with Cass.

My phone lights up and catches my attention. Who would be messaging me at three in the morning?

Tom.

I don’t know where you snuck off to earlier, but I’m not happy about it. I had to explain where you were to people wanting to congratulate you! I even ran into Kade, fucking some whore behind the rocks, while I was looking for you. You will pay for it.

I hiss as pain ignites up my left arm. It’s heat, electric and pure pain. Another shock hits, and I jump off the couch crying out in pain. Cara rushes out of her room in a panic.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” she shouts.

“I don’t know, my arm… there’s something wrong.” I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just pain.

My phone lights up again, another text. Cara reads over my shoulder.

Did you feel that? That’s on the lowest setting, it can get much more intense if you push me. If you even think of taking the ring off, you know what I’ll do. I’ll make you put it back on and when you do, this shock will look like nothing compared to the one I’ll give you. Sweet dreams…my pet…or should I say fiancé?

“He can’t get away with this, you have to tell Kade!” Cara screams.

I throw the phone against the wall in pure fury. He wants to shock me, fine. I’ve made it this far after everything he’s done to me, I can take it. I have friends who love me, I have my job, and now things have happened with Kade. I might actually be happy. I’m still here. I might have a future, a happy one. He will not take this from me. He can shock me all he wants, it only keeps the fire burning in my veins.

KADE

“That piece of shit asshole!” Cyrus swears.

After recounting everything Emilia told me last night, Cyrus is seething. I tell him everything, but I leave out the part where I ate her out in the alcove. He doesn’t need to hear that.

“You fucked her, didn’t you?” He smirks. “Tom came back and said you were fucking some whore in the alcove, but he said it couldn’t have been Emilia because she doesn’t make those types of noises.”

She doesn’t make those noises because he fucking raped her. The rage is slowly climbing its way back up my throat.

“I didn’t fuck her, I might have been on my knees at one point though.” A smile slowly working its way onto my face. The memory of her clenching around my fingers, the taste of her, like she was made solely for me. I already miss the sounds I got from her.

“It’s nice to see you happy, man. I’ve not seen you like this…ever.” Cyrus beams.

“I love her Cy, you were right.” I hate it when I have to admit he’s right. He doesn’t need the ego boost.

“I fucking knew it! I’m so winning the pool!” He reaches over my desk and slaps my shoulder. “You should listen to me more often, I’m always right” he shrugs.

“Back to the topic at hand, we need a plan for Tom. She doesn’t want me to kill him… which hasn’t entirely been agreed to yet.” I’m going to kill him, there’s no question about it.

“Okay we both know you’re going to kill him, but I wouldn’t put it past Emilia to not do it herself if she’s angry enough,” he explains.

“Then I’ll cover for her, in whatever way I can. She’s not going down for killing him. Not an option.” I shut that down immediately. “We need to find out where he’s keeping the drives and maybe plant something of our own. Emilia mentioned a safe he’s got behind a picture in his bedroom, we’ll start there.”

“When do we go in?” he asks.

“I don’t expect you to come with me Cy. It’ll be risky,” I warn.