After I Got Out, He Begged Me to Keep Him

Chapter 1

The iron gate slammed shut behind me.

Clang!

The grating roar sounded like a careless, mocking period placed at the end of my year in prison.

I was released from prison.

A year ago, I drove a paring knife clean through my childhood sweetheart, Lucian Blackwell.

Because he wanted to move overseas.

Because he wanted to leave me.

I loved him.

I loved him so much I wanted to chop him into pieces and swallow him spoonful by spoonful, bones and all.

That way, he would belong to me forever.

During the 365 days I spent in prison, not a single day passed without me thinking of him.

I thought about the way his face had gone pale as he stared at me in disbelief.

I thought about the way he had clutched his wound while blood poured through his fingers.

The feeling of destroying the thing I loved with my own hands had thrilled me until my whole body trembled.

Now, I was out.

The wind in Blackridge was as cold as a blade. It cut across my face until it hurt.

But every drop of blood in my body was boiling.

I hailed a cab. When I spoke, my voice came out hoarse, rough as gravel.

"Cresthill Estates."

The driver studied me through the rearview mirror. The contempt and disgust in his eyes weren't hidden at all.

I didn't care.

Only one thought remained in my mind.

I was going to kick down that gilded front door of his.

I was going to fasten the thickest dog leash around his neck and break every proud bone in his body.

I was going to make him look at me, think of me, and see no one but me.

If he dared to resist, I would kill him again.

Then I would die with him.

After all, I, Evelyn Mercer, had been born a hopeless madwoman.

My parents had given up on me long ago. They called me the shame of the Mercer family, a monster they could never tame.

There was nothing in this world I cared about.

Except Lucian.