Page 11 of Covert Desires

“The lines are dead.”

“There has to be a way.” As anger floods through me, my jaw tightens, the bones creaking under the strain—an old habit that I can’t seem to shake.

“It’s off-season. The place is deserted. There are no ferries for another month. And no plane can fly in this.” Her voice is surprisingly calm. It pisses me off even more.

“No!” Uncontrollable rage rips through me as I smash the whiskey bottle against the wall. It shatters onto the ground, followed by the unfinished canvas I pull from its easel and smash over the table.

Perfectly stacked plates.

Glasses.

Fuck ‘em all.

Everything comes tumbling to the floor, reduced to shards and splinters.

“Stop it!” Kiah calls as I destroy her things.

But what is she going to do?

“Shut up!” I rip the abstract painting from the wall, bright colors that mean nothing to me, and hold it over her, my chest heaving with rapid breaths.

“Don’t—” she doesn’t get to finish her sentence before I break the painting over her knees, sending her crying out in shock.

But the innkeeper’s the least of my worries.

I can’t stick around; they’ll find me.

And I don’t even have my gun with me to defend myself.

Cazzo!

Chapter four

Escape

(Kiah)

Forfivehours,Ilie in a puddle of my own filth mixed with whiskey, every muscle in my body screaming with aches.

But I refuse to let him break me.

I’ve met a lot of bad men in my life but Nico definitely makes it into the top ten of that list.

That’s ifNicois even his real name.

Whatever his name is, he has no idea who he’s dealing with. I’m done playing nice.

It’s way past daybreak before the asshole finishes enough of my liquor to knock him.

He’s snoring loudly in my bed, passed out on his back with his arm hanging off the side, the half-drunk bottle of whiskey spilling out on the floor.

Passed out, Nico almost looks peaceful…serene. But there is nothing peaceful about the brute who forced me to wet myself with his cum still sticky on my face.

I’ll have to burn that bathrobe—it’s touched that animal’s body. He’s probably stretched it too.

Who does he think he is coming intomy house, tying me up, and breaking my shit?

My eyes burn with disgusted tears, but I force them back. They won’t help me now. I’ve learned a long time ago that tears won’t save you. Nobody will save you if you can’t save yourself.

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