I stared up at him from a kneeling position on the floor, frozen at the sight of his approach. The dark tower of a man reached a strong hand down in my direction, causing me to shrink toward the floor in fear of what he might do. Elliot paused, then continued to reach behind me to open the drawer of the bedside table. He pulled out the choker and dangled it over me. “You put it away last night. I was only trying to help.”

I reached up to delicately grab the necklace when a wave of ...