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Don’t look back He’ll convince you to stay--only te

She’d counted to ten when a hand landed on her shoulder and jerked her to a stop

A BOOM of thunder nearly burst her eardruainst a waro" Being wet and rasp

Her hair hung in her eyes, obscuring her vision, her dress was sopping wet and stuck to her calves like plastic wrap

Still, Macie ran

Until two steel bands immobilized her completely She’d only taken three steps that time

"Macie Calm down"

She thrashed and shrieked

He put his mouth directly on her ear "It’s me Carter"

"I knoho you are, duet away?"

Carter spun her to face hi with you?"

"You won’t let ainst o home"

The clouds rumbled and she went absolutely still

Silence

"You’re soakin’ wet, scared out of your et out of here"

"No, you don’t You need to take a deep breath and calm down"

"Don’t tell ave way to another loud booain

Carter cupped her face in his hands "Look ated sideways and ran

This time she made it about ten steps when she heard-- Riiiippppp Carter had caught her by the back of her dress

She whirled around, leading with her fists, losing her footing as she yelled, "You bastard"

He lunged for her as she slipped in the y earth

She scrambled to her hands and knees and tried to craay froed her ankle, rolled her on her back and pinned her to the ground

Macie thrashed and bucked like a penned wild ani her as callously as every otherlike a child in the face of a thunderstored not to screa roar of thunder

Carter locked her wrists in one of his hands and pressed them above her head, while his hard body trapped hers

"Look at me"

She shook her head

"Please Macie Let o"

"No"

"You can’t do this to me First you snap--"

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