ADRIAN
I walked to the car, my jaw clenched, as Ella sat curled in the passenger seat, crying uncontrollably.
Her shoulders trembled, her sobs slicing through the silence like knives. I stepped on the gas, my fists tight around the wheel, and fury barely contained beneath my skin.
She had disobeyed me. She had let that little s**t touch her. And now she was crying like I was the f*****g monster.
But monsters didn’t feel like this. Monsters didn’t look at puffed-up cheeks and red, swollen eyes and feel... something twist inside.
We arrived.
The second I parked, she bolted from the car and disappeared into the house.
I didn’t stop her.
I let her run.
I let her think she could hide. I let her believe I’d let it go.
She had no idea what I was about to do.
I gave her a few minutes
