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His words hovered over the air like smoke — thick, fluid. My mouth opened to say something, anything but they got stuck in my throat. I looked toward the door and it was slightly ajar. This could be my chance, I thought to myself, dashing forward to the door but I was met with a hard body.

I glanced up and surprisingly, Ryker was standing before me with a grin that said 'you can't run from me' painted on his cheeks.  His hand held firmly to the knob.

Panic clawed at the chest, ...