Nathan stood in front of the bedroom door, arms crossed, his body blocking any chance of leaving like a guard who wasn’t planning on backing down. Across from him, Tessa leaned against the edge of the bed, feeling the carved wood dig into the back of her legs. Nathan’s tone still hung in the air, a quiet but clear threat. “Choose your words carefully. Your freedom depends on it,” he said.

Tessa took a deep breath, clearly going over the plan she’d been running through on the way ...