The rawness gripped her throat, and she put a hand against her chest, almost as if she felt him crushing her now, telling her what she would and wouldn’t do. His orders, filled with so much rage, echoed inside her head.

“I’ve got you, Heather. Breathe. In and out. Slowly. Deeply.”

Heather didn’t realize straight away that she had collapsed to her knees and had started to struggle to breathe. David had a hand on her back and one on her chest.

He looked worried. The frown between his ...