Page 54 of Crushed Vow

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“Charlotte...” his voice cracked, weaker now. “Are we going to die here?”

I pressed my forehead against the cold wall, whispering through a throat full of shards, “We’re doomed.”

I hated myself.

I hated my father.

I hated the men upstairs planning how to carve me into a contract.

I hated that I still wanted Cassian—wanted him to come charging through that door like he used to.

But he wouldn’t.

Not this time.

I asked for a divorce.

And I got it.

Now all I had left... was nothing.

Chapter 9

CHARLOTTE

The room was cold, damp, and smelled like mildew and dried blood.

There was no bed, no blanket—only filth. My throat burned. I hadn’t had water in hours, and my lips were cracked and dry.

Ethan lay next to me on the floor, barely conscious, a filthy rag tied tightly across his back to stem the bleeding. Another wrapped clumsily around his thigh. I had used the edge of my shirt to soak up the worst of it, but it wasn’t enough.

“If the bullet’s not removed...” Ethan rasped, voice thin, breath shallow, “I might not make it.”

My heart cracked.

“No. No, don’t say that.”

I stood up, my legs wobbling, and staggered to the rusted iron door. I pounded it with both fists, screaming until my voice was raw.

“Help! Somebody help us! He’s going to die!”

I didn’t care if they beat me for it.

I pounded until the skin on my hands split and bled. Until I sank to the floor, sobbing, broken.

I crawled back to Ethan and pulled his head onto my lap, brushing sweaty hair from his face, whispering, “Stay alive. Stay with me. Please.”

Ethan tried to smile. “You’re... the bossiest nurse I’ve ever had.”

I laughed—choked on it. “Shut up, idiot.”

His eyes kept drifting. He was slipping.

Then—

A soft vibration buzzed in my pocket.

The device.

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