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“Because I knehat it would do to you,” I answered as I dropped ers were lax, but I knew that didn’t

“What will it do to me?”

“Even though you’re safe, you won’t be able to stop thinking about what it would have been like… to have to start over with so to learn how to please someone new, to obey them so they wouldn’t hurt you You’ll think about how close you caain”

“That’s not all,” Aleks whispered “Is it?”

I shook my head

“Is he… do you think he’s the one who sent those men after me?”

When I didn’t answer hiers stroke over the back of my head

“I’ll keep you safe, Aleks That’s all that matters”

I knew Aleks was no longer talking to me when he asked, “So you wanted to use me as bait?”

I willed Luca not to answer

He didn’t

But whatever Aleks saw on his face was answer enough because he pulled his fingers froo to my room now?”

I wanted to tell hio, but I kneasn’t in any shape to do anything but escape I was half-tempted to ask him if he wanted to call his brother, but I was afraid of his answer so I et off his chair on the opposite side so he wouldn’t touch un in hand to rab for hi armed, he had the skills to hold Aleks in such a way that I’d have no choice but to put down my weapon

I watched Aleks go to the stairs and head up them There was no way for hiest concern was keeping an eye on Luca and Con so neither tried to take him from me while the other distracted or disabled me