The sunlight blinded me as I sat up and realized I was in my bed. I rubbed my eyes as I attempted to adjust to the light, my whole body froze when I noticed someone sitting in the corner.

"Talon, what the fuck?" I exclaimed as I looked around to make sure no one else was watching me. "Why are you watching me sleep?"

"Braxton sent me to come get you, but you looked peaceful so I let you sleep a little longer," he replied as he stood up, he threw some joggers my way before he walked out of the room.

Am I dreaming? I hopped off the bed and pulled on the pair of pants before I jogged to catch up with Talon.

"Where are we going?" I asked as I skipped two steps at a time, he was at the door by time I caught up to him.

"It's a surprise," he replied, my nose scrunched up in response. I followed in step behind him to the parking garage until we reached his car, I looked around before I hopped into the passenger seat. "Here." I looked over to see him holding out a unicorn blindfold, my eyes looked back up at his in confusion.

When he didn't say anything, I just took the blindfold from his hand and slipped it over my eyes. I felt the car start to go in reverse before he took off out of the parking garage.

The car ride was pretty silent except for the music playing, I could feel the turns he took and the stops he made. When I heard him put the car in park, my head followed as I heard one door open and another open.

"Watch your step," Talon said before he took my blindfold off, my eyes squinted at the bright sun peeking through the trees. My eyebrows scrunched up when I saw a huge warehouse covered in vines and overgrown trees. "Let's go." He tugged at my elbow, but my feet stayed glued where they were.

"Is he going to hurt me?" I whispered as if Braxton could hear me, Talon rolled his eyes and tugged harder at my elbow.

I could feel my heart beat in my ears as we approached the huge, battered doors. I looked around me as Talon struggled opening the door, there was nothing but woods all around us.

"Braxton," Talon raised his voice as we walked through the dim lit room, all I could see was light peeking out through the cracks of a door. When he threw the doors open, all eyes were on us.

There was multiple men standing around a table, some were seated, and Braxton was at the head of the table. I felt myself shrink behind Talon, but he pushed me towards Braxton.

"Come here," Braxton said with a smirk playing on his face, I looked around as I crept his way. He held his hand out, waiting for me to place my small hand on his. "Get out." I heard feet scatter towards the door, but his eyes stayed focused only on mine. "Grey, this is the only people you need to know."

I lifted my head to meet four pairs of eyes on me, I glanced up at Braxton as he nodded me their way. "Grab her." Before I could even open my mouth to protest, one of the guys grabbed my elbow and grabbed the back of my neck. I tensed up, but his grip never loosened as we followed behind Braxton to a dead bolted door.

Braxton unlocked the door and stepped aside as he pulled it open, I was suddenly pushed forward, but I could see the guys coming in right behind me. My eyes got wide as they scanned the room full of weapons and tools.

A raspy laugh snapped me from my thoughts and my whole body froze as I looked the man in the face. His face was covered in blood, I'm pretty sure his nose was broken and I didn't snap back until he spit blood at my feet.

"Say something, bitch!" He yelled before he laughed again, I took a step forward and my head tilted to the side. His voice brought back memories of dark rooms and broken bones.

I flinched when I felt someone grab my hand, I glanced up at Braxton as he pressed up behind me.

"Remember what I told you?" He whispered in
my ear, but my eyes never left Zeke's. "You ready?" I felt his fingers reach around my neck and I pulled back from his touch.

"Death is too easy for you," I finally spoke up as I walked closer to him. "You stripped my innocence from me, you humiliated me." I could feel the anger building up in me as I spoke, all the memories were flashing in my head. I grabbed a knife from the table to the left before I approached Zeke again. "Let him down."

"Grey–"

"Let him down!" I snapped as I sent daggers towards the guys, Braxton's eyes never left mine as he nodded for a confirmation. I kept my eyes locked with his until I turned back to Zeke.

As soon as he lifted his head, I sent a kick across his face. I dropped down to my knees as I started to undo his belt, I could feel the tears burning in my eyes as I struggled to pull his pants down.

"Grey–" I shrugged off whoever attempted to grab me as I pulled his pants to his knees. I looked around for something–anything, I ripped his belt from his belt loops before I wrapped it around his throat.

"I can never be like you, no matter how much I want you to feel what I felt, I can never be like you," I didn't realize I was crying till I spoke, but my grip never loosened. I could tell he was struggling to breathe, but he only laughed.

"You...don't know...do you?" He choked out between breaths, I pulled harder as I leaned closer.

"Know what?" I snapped, but he only laughed in response. I jerked as a sob slipped out of my throat. "Know what, you stupid bitch?"

"Tyler," he croaked out, I felt my grip get tighter, but my heart was pounding in my chest. He let out another laugh as I threw him to the side. "What's wrong?" I sent another blow to his head before I stormed out of the room.

I closed my eyes and let out shaky breaths as I leaned against the wall to slow my heart beat down. I felt something warm wrap around my hand, but my tears were blinding my vision.

"It's okay, take your time," the voice that spoke wasn't Braxton or Talon, it was deep and attractive. "Come on, let's go get cleaned up." I didn't protest as they pulled me to another room, I looked at my red, blotchy face in the mirror as he wet a paper towel.

When I finally calmed down, I looked up to meet his soft brown eyes. He cupped my face in his hands before he placed a soft kiss on my forehead, I let myself melt into his touch as my breathing evened out.

"Grey, we ha–the fuck are you doing?" Braxton's voice boomed through the little room we were in, I jumped back from the dudes touch and my heart started to pound again. "Go get in the car." I wanted to move, but my feet were glued to the spot I was standing. "Did I fucking stutter, Noah? Go!" I jumped before I hurried past him and towards the front entrance.

I didn't look back until I got into the passenger seat, I saw Braxton eventually appear and I turned around to look in front of me. I closed my eyes when I heard the driver door open, I didn't know I was holding my breath till I started to get lightheaded.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Braxton finally pulled off and started back towards home.

Braxton didn't say a word the whole ride or walk up the apartment, I just followed in behind him not making a sound. I jumped when I felt him grab my hand, but I didn't pull away as I let him lead me towards the stairs.

"Are you mad at me?" I finally got the courage to speak, but he didn't even acknowledge the fact I spoke. I felt the lump in my throat get bigger and fear had already took over my entire body.

When we got to the apartment, he didn't stop his stride as he tossed the keys on the side table and headed for the stairs. I stayed in step behind him as he climbed the stairs, my heart sank when passed his bedroom door and kept heading for mine.

Tears were already present in my eyes as Braxton opened my bedroom door, he didn't even look at me as he held it open for me to walk in. My lips parted to say, I'm sorry, but instead I let the tears fall as i let my head hang.

As soon as I heard the door close behind me, I let my body drop to the floor and I let it all out. It was a silent cry, but it was so loud at the same time. In the midst of my full mental breakdown, I saw myself in the mirror and I instantly stopped crying.

I started to crawl towards my reflection, as I got closer, I saw my blotchy, swollen eyes.

"I don't even know who I am anymore," I whispered as I reached up to touch my reflection. I heard the doorknob rattle and I shot up from the spot I was sitting in.

I was wiping my face when Braxton opened the door, he didn't say anything, he just stood there. Looking at me. I didn't want to ask him what he was looking at, but it was getting creepy.

"Braxton?" I spoke up, my voice came out cracked and hoarse, but I just cleared my throat. He still didn't say anything, but he held out his hand. I looked at him confused as I slowly started to walk towards him. His eyes followed mine as I got closer to him, I reached up to take his hand gently.

Without a word, he started to pull me towards his room.

"Please, don't hurt me," I said softly as we neared his bedroom door, I felt him squeeze my hand as he opened the door. He nudged me towards his bed before he started to walk to the other side, I waited before I started to lay under the silk covers.

I just laid back and folded my arms across my chest as I looked up at the ceiling, I felt the bed start to dip in next to me, but I didn't look at Braxton.

"Did you enjoy it when he touched you like that?" Braxton finally spoke, I turned towards him quickly with a confused look on my face. "Savon, when he touched your face?" I opened my mouth to answer, but I didn't know what to say.

"He was just comforting me," I replied in small voice, I watched as Braxton's jaw clenched, but he never look away from me. "It didn't mean anything."

"Why didn't you come to me for comfort?" He blurted out next, this time my eyes brows furrowed as I tilted my head. "I can comfort you."

"You can?" I asked, but it came out a bit harsher than I meant for it to. I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry." He stayed quiet, but I was too scared to open my eyes and see what he was doing.

Next thing I knew, I felt his fingertips start to run up my arm. I slowly opened my eyes and watched him get closer to my face, but his eyes never left mine.

When he finally cupped my cheek, I reached up and wrapped my hand around his. Before I could even think, Braxton's lips were on mine.

I ran my fingers through his hair as the kiss deepened and his hand moved down to grab my waist instead. I honestly had no idea what I was doing, but Braxton didn't seem to notice as he moved lower to grip my ass.

He finally pulled back and made his way to my neck as he placed multiple kisses on my skin.

"Don't ever let someone make you feel like you aren't beautiful," he whispered in my ear, before he placed a kiss there as well. I felt Braxton push against me, but I only gripped his side tighter.

I felt my eyes start to burn and my vision started to get blurry, I bit my lip before I pushed Braxton back. He looked down at me confused, but he only used his thumbs to wipe away my tears.

"Please, don't be mad at me," I cried out between sobs. I felt as Braxton placed kisses on my tear soaked cheeks as he caressed my hand. I wanted to stop crying, but I physically couldn't make myself stop.

Braxton didn't say a word as I cried into his chest, he just held my hand tighter and tighter till I finally stopped. I looked up at him as he pushed me back to stand up, but I didn't say a word as I watched him go grab a water bottle.

"Here," he spoke softly, I tipped it up against my lips and Braxton brushed my hair back from my face as he got down to my level. "You will never cry like that again, do you understand me? No one will ever hurt you like that again and I'm going to kill anybody that did."