The mansion felt colder with each passing day. The high ceilings, the marble floors, the endless hallways,they weren't home. They were a gilded cage.
Kendrick had made it clear: I was his. I'd been brought here from the hospital, my body barely healed, but his cruel hands didn't care about that. Every room in this house was a reminder that I wasn't just a prisoner in his physical space,I was trapped inside his mind, manipulated, used, broken in every way imaginable.
I was playing my part, of course. The obedient little thing, the perfect image of submission. It sickened me to my core, but it was the only way to survive.
Kendrick slept in the master bedroom, and I shared the bed with him. At night, he'd curl around me like a predator, his chest pressed to my back, his arm draped over me as if claiming me even in sleep. But inside, I was planning. Plotting. Biding my time.
And tonight was the night.
Kendrick had spent the evening drinking in his study. His favorite whiskey had filled his veins, making him sluggish, slow to notice anything. Perfect for my escape.
I waited until the house fell silent, the hum of the mansion's air conditioning the only sound. His breathing had slowed to a steady rhythm, and I knew he was lost in deep sleep. Slowly, I slipped from the bed, careful not to wake him. The cool air hit my skin as I moved toward the dresser. I grabbed the burner phone Elise had hidden for me, my hands trembling as I dialed the number she'd given me.
The message was simple, desperate.
"Tonight. 2:30 AM. Back gate. Please."
I hit send.
The phone slipped into my pocket as I dressed quickly, donning the plain clothes Elise had smuggled into the house for me. My heart raced as I moved toward the door, but just before I could step into the hallway, I stopped. I listened.
No sound. No movement.
I breathed out slowly, the air thick with tension. This was it.
I crept past the guards who stood by Kendrick's study, as still as statues. I knew the layout of the mansion now,the back entrance was my only shot. Kendrick's men weren't exactly subtle, but they were loyal, and that made them dangerous.
I reached the back hall and slipped into the shadows. The cool air of the night met my face as I neared the back gate. The key Elise had given me felt heavy in my hand.
I could hear the soft hum of a car idling outside the gate. My escape was moments away.
But then,footsteps.
I froze, heart leaping into my throat.
"Where do you think you're going?"
The familiar voice sent a chill through my body. I turned slowly, dread coiling in my stomach. Kendrick stood there, his silhouette dark against the dim light from the hallway. His eyes were sharp, alert, no trace of drunkenness left in him.
He hadn't been asleep. Not even close.
I backed up, heart pounding, the gate just beyond me. But Kendrick was faster. He lunged, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward him with such force that I collided with his chest.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice?" he whispered, his voice a dark promise. He tugged at my wrist, leading me back toward the main room.
I struggled, kicking and twisting, but he was relentless. His grip was unyielding. He dragged me through the hallways, the walls echoing my struggle. Every time I tried to break free, he tightened his hold, his fingers digging into my skin.
We reached the main living area, and he tossed me into a chair. I winced as my body hit the cold surface, the air leaving my lungs in a rush.
"Where were you going?" Kendrick's voice was low, dangerous, laced with amusement. He towered over me, his dark eyes gleaming.
I couldn't answer. I could barely breathe. His presence suffocated me.
"You thought you could run away, huh?" He paced in front of me, his steps slow, deliberate. "I warned you what would happen if you disobeyed me."
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. The weight of his gaze, of his control, paralyzed me.
He crouched down in front of me, his face inches from mine. His fingers brushed my cheek, trailing down to my neck. "You want to leave, don't you?" His voice was soft, almost tender. "You want to escape."
I didn't nod. I didn't speak.
His lips curled into a cruel smile. "You'll never escape me, sweetheart."
Before I could react, his lips crashed down on mine, hot and forceful. He kissed me hard, punishing me with every movement. I tried to push him away, but his hands were everywhere,on my body, controlling, claiming.
"You'll never leave me, not like this," he muttered against my lips as he pulled away. His eyes were darker now, almost predatory.
I gasped for air, but there was no escape.
He stood, towering over me again, his expression unreadable. His hand gripped my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze.
"I told you, didn't I?" he said, voice low and dangerous. "You're mine. Every part of you. And no matter how hard you try to run, I will always find you. I will always keep you."
I closed my eyes, the tears threatening to fall, but I refused to let them.
"You think this is punishment?" he continued. "This is just the beginning."
He jerked me up from the chair, his strength overwhelming. His mouth found mine again, a kiss more brutal than the last. His hands roamed down to my waist, his touch claiming, stealing every ounce of strength I had left.
And then, just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, he pulled away, leaving me gasping, trembling.
He chuckled darkly.
"You're not leaving. Not tonight. Not ever."