He stood. I shrank away from him, expecting him to lash out again.

"Connor can have my seconds. And once I'm done with you no one will touch you."

My worst fear was becoming a reality and there was no way for me to fix it. I stared up at him, looking for any chink in his formidable armor.

"Daniel," I whispered. My eyes began to water.

He gave me one last look of hatred before he smoothed his hair and straightened up.

"If you report this I'll tie you up in so much legal red tape you will rue the day you ever messed with me. I'm a respectable businessman with friends in the right places. You're nothing more than a whore with a pretty face. No one will take your word over mine."

His words hurt because they held the truth that he was powerful enough to crush me.

"Daniel," I said again, hoping I could stop what was happening.

He shook his head. "You have to be out of the apartment by the end of the week and I never want to see you again."

His eyes held mine for a moment before he abruptly left. I listened as he exited the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Feeling shocked and defeated, I stared after him. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the tears on my face but refusing to cry.

Everything I had worked for was gone. Daniel, who had been my safety net, was gone and I was free-falling. I couldn't catch my breath. My hand held my rib, aching as I tried to sit up. I hissed in my pain as I got on bended knees before I straightened up to stand.

My tight control over my life had been cut so swiftly and without warning it felt like I was spinning out of control. My throat burned and I swallowed to keep the emotion from coming to the surface. I was afraid if I gave in to it, I wouldn't be able to recover.

I was lost. Back to a time when I had no control over my life, when Slater had shoved me into the closet to protect me.

I needed protection. I shuffled to the walk-in closet and opened the door. Inside the darkness where no one could find me, I would be safe.

There was a sharp pain as I sat down inside the safety of the closet with expensive clothes I could hide behind.

Only when I closed the doors did I allow myself to whimper. In the darkness I found solace. I didn't want to go back to living on the streets. Not knowing where my next meal would come from, or worrying about what could happen out there in the real world where bad people did bad things every day.

I stayed there holed up in the closet, too scared to face the world and my place in it.

At some point I lay down and fell asleep. My dreams turned to nightmares and a few times I woke up from a jolt of pain in my side. I cried for the life I had believed I held in my hand.

Daniel's last words echoed in my mind. He would ensure no one booked me for a job. My modeling career was over.

I couldn't even blame Connor. It had been my curiosity that had led me to search his name on my laptop. I should have known Daniel would keep tabs on everything I did, including the laptop he had bought for me. I had made a mistake and now I would pay for it dearly.

I lost track of time. The emotional ache inside of me hurt far worse than the hunger pangs.

I would have to get my stuff together and leave. I laughed when I remembered I didn't have any 'stuff.' Everything belonged to Daniel. The shaky breath hurt every part of my body. I lay on my uninjured side, unable to get up. I wasn't strong enough to face what happened and the consequences.

*******

I awoke to the sound of someone calling my name.

"Riley?" The voice was deep, filled with worry. "Riley!"

I didn't want anyone to see me like this so I stopped myself from answering.

"Are you sure she's here?" Then I recognized the voice. Connor. What on earth was he doing here?

"Yes. She hasn't left the building." I didn't recognize the second voice. My side throbbed and I tried to stay as still as possible. If I cried out they would find me.

I wanted to disappear into nothing. The feelings of despair and sadness clutched me in its tight grip. I bit my lip hard, using the pain to keep myself from wandering through the sad thoughts in my mind.

"We've searched everywhere." Connor sounded defeated.

Footsteps drew closer and I held my breath. Please don't let them find me. Please. Not like this.

But no amount of wishing stopped the door from creaking. Light flooded my darkness and I blinked to adjust my eyes.

"Mr. Price," the stranger called.

Just as my eyes began to focus, Connor's concerned face filled my view.

"Riley?" His voice was filled with disbelief.

I stared, watching his features change as he took in my face. I didn't need a mirror to see the bruises I could feel.

"Riley?" His voice was softer, gentler as he bent down beside me. He reached out to touch me but I flinched.

"I won't hurt you." His eyes scanned my face, his jaw tight.

I swallowed. My eyes were still captivated by his.

"We need to take you to the hospital."

The word hospital snapped me out of my daze.

"No hospital." My throat was dry and hoarse. I shook my head, feeling my panic rise. "No hospital."

"Okay." He nodded. "No hospital."

He got his phone and pressed it to his ear.

"Dr. Howard...I need you at..." He rattled off my address.

"No." I tried to argue but he refused to listen.

"It's an emergency...she's refusing to go to the hospital...thanks." He shoved his phone back into his jacket.

"Can you stand?"

I hesitated. My side still hurt but I would be able to get to my feet.

I nodded. He helped me sit up and I held my side tightly, hoping to lessen the pain. He held his hand out to me and I hesitated before his hand gripped mine. His arm wrapped around my shoulder as he helped me up.

The guy I recognized as the bodyguard who had ushered me to the limo stood watching behind Connor.

"Jacob, Dr. Howard will be here soon," he said to the bodyguard who had found me. He gave a slight nod and disappeared from the room.

Gently, Connor lowered me to sit and I clutched my side, trying to stop the renewed ache. I let out a breath.

"What did he do, Riley?" Connor was on a bent knee in front of me.

I inhaled and my throat burned, making it impossible to talk.

"Riley," Connor said, pulling my attention back to him, "show me where it hurts."

The truth was my whole body felt like I had been bumped around the dryer for a few hours but the worst pain was my ribcage.

When I refused to answer, Connor's hand covered my hand that was still pressed against my injury.

"Let me see." His voice was so gentle I wanted to sob but I gritted my teeth.

There was no more hiding what Daniel had done to me. I shifted my hand and Connor lifted my top to look. His fingers touched my side gently but it was enough for me to inhale sharply.

Connor dropped my shirt. His sole focus was on my injuries. He touched the side of my face and I looked away. Then his finger touched my bottom lip close to where the split still throbbed.

"I'm going to kill him," he murmured to me.

I heard more activity outside the bedroom and Jacob strode in with another man. That was quick.

He was Asian, with glasses, and was dressed in an expensive suit. He wasn't a run-of-the-mill doctor.

"You're lucky I was close by," the doctor said.

Feeling ashamed, I wrapped my arms around myself.

"Dr. Howard is here to make sure you don't have any serious injuries," Connor explained slowly like he was talking to a child.

"No." I stared at the doctor. Jacob stood to his right.

"It's either him or the hospital."

My eyes shot to Connor.

"I need to know the extent of your injuries."