LOGIN[BRIAN]The prison smells like rust, sweat, and something faintly rotten—like the walls themselves have absorbed decades of violence and regret.I hate it already.A guard leads me down a long corridor lined with thick steel bars. The heavy clang of each gate opening and closing echoes through the h
[AVA]I drift in and out of consciousness, a series of disjointed images and sounds flashing through my mind like a broken film reel.The cold. So much cold. The metallic taste of blood in my mouth.A man’s voice. Cold. Cruel. Laughing.“Good girl,” he whispers, his voice terrifying. “Stay still. Ju
[BRIAN]I give myself only two seconds to take in everything before I decide someone is going to pay with their life for this.I rush to Ava’s side, my body working solely on autopilot as I pick her up from the hard, cold floor and put her down on the couch.Max appears with a blanket that I’m not s
“Someone has been threatening Ava?” He stands up so fast it almost makes me dizzy. “Who the fuck would do that? And why? What did she do?”“Your guess is as good as mine,” I say, shaking my head and running a hand through my hair, already tired of this whole messed-up situation. “I don’t know why sh
[BRIAN]Brooke leads me to her apartment next door—apparently, that’s her name, as she told me before she allowed me to follow her.She opens the door and steps inside. But just as I take a step in, a big, fluffy thing barks and growls at me from inside.Alright. One thing about me: I’m not very con
[BRIAN]When I pull up at Ava’s old address, I have only one goal in mind.To find Max and get the hell out.Why? Because this place always gave me the creeps. Not only is it the most notorious part of the city, but it’s also slightly dangerous.When Dean and his family went bankrupt years ago, I di
[AVA]Despite Aaron’s obvious threat, I find myself pacing outside the operating room where Sean is being treated. The nurse who rushed out a minute ago informed Aaron—while I overheard—that Sean is going to be fine. He just needs some stitches and a few hours of observation until he gains conscious
[AVA]After Mom and Dad leave for the safe place Aaron arranged for them, we ride back to the hospital.I’m still a little shaken up by the threat to my parents, but knowing they’re safe for now, I allow myself to feel slightly better.Once we arrive, the nurses inform us that Sean is awake.My hear
[AVA]I’m pacing in my office when Sean bursts through the doors. He doesn’t even wait for me to say anything and starts blurting out whatever he seems to have thought during his quick drive from his own office to mine.“Alright. Here’s what we know,” he says, still panting, hands on his hips. “You
[AVA]When I wake up, I’m in my bed, staring at the ceiling fan lazily spinning above me.The dull throb in my head reminds me that I passed out earlier, but the softness of the sheets is a stark contrast to the cold tile floor I collapsed on.I’m not sure how long I’ve been out, but hopefully not t







