His fingers traced the scar gently, then moved higher. Another scar on her shoulder. Then his hands found the long one on her back.
"It's nothing," she said quickly, trying to pull away. "Old accidents—"
"Don't lie to me." His voice was still gentle, but there was steel underneath. "These ain't accidents. These are deliberate. Someone hurt you."
Ivy tried to pull away, but Boone held her carefully. Not restraining, just... holding.
"Talk to me, darlin'. Please."
And something in his voice—the gentleness, the concern, the barely restrained fury—broke her.
"Preston," she whispered. "My ex-fiancé. He... when I didn't do what he wanted, when I embarrassed him or questioned him or just... existed wrong... he'd punish me."
Boone went absolutely still. "Punish you how?"
"Little things at
