With her head bowed, she reached up and touched the heart-shaped locket that hung in the center, right at the dip of her collarbones. She turned then and climbed into my lap, her hands settled on my jaw. “I love it. More than anything. And I’m glad you gave it back to me. But I don’t need it anymore to feel safe. Not when I know you’re here. That you’re by my side no matter what.”

I leaned forward and pressed my lips to hers. She melted into me, brushing her tongue against mine, and I didn’t think this would ever grow old. Holding her in my arms, waking up next to her every morning, having her be the last thing I saw before falling asleep. Five years ago, I’d lost the girl I’d loved more than anything. And then I’d found a woman who I loved more than I thought was possible.

I pulled back and whispered the only word that mattered. “Always.”

A Note from the Author

Dear Reader,

This story was a hard one to tell. And one, to be honest, that I fought in the early stages with every ounce of my being. For authors, our characters are sort of like our children, and the thought of them going through something so horrific is hard to accept. It killed me to think that something this horrendous happened to one of my characters. More than that, though, it kills me to know that it happens to hundreds of thousands of others every year. But the truth of the matter is, it does, and it’s not anything to turn a blind eye to, not anything to turn our backs on. When I stopped trying to find every excuse in the world for the path Evie took and finally listened to what she had to say, I understood. Her history, as awful as it was, is something that makes her who she is—not something that defines her, but something that’s a part of her, just like her tenacity and strength.

If you found a kindred spirit in Evie, I hope you’ve found the strength to share your story. If you haven’t, there are people who are there to help and to listen. You don’t have to be silent anymore.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network)

www.rainn.org

National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-HOPE

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

www.nsvrc.org

Acknowledgments

Sometimes, thank you isn’t enough, and I found that to be the case many times while writing this book. Alas, all I have is thank you, so I’ll say it a thousand times.

To Christina, I think this all the time, but I rarely say it, so I’m saying it now: your strength and resilience is amazing and awe inspiring. Thank you for giving me the courage and the push needed to stop trying to find excuses for Evie’s character and truly listen to her, allow her to speak. Thank you for holding my hand while I wrote the hardest thing I’ve ever written, and for offering your wisdom and encouragement and support while I traversed the difficult path of her character. You’re amazing, and I’m so very grateful I get to call you not only my Plot Whisperer but my friend.

To every single survivor I spoke to who willingly shared their experiences with me, thank you. It doesn’t suffice, but it’s all I have to give. Thank you a million times for your insight and for trusting me enough to share your stories with me.

To my editor, Rose Hilliard, for brainstorming with me in the early stages and helping me grow this into the idea that eventually became Riley and Evie. Thank you for helping me develop this book into the best it could be.

To my agent, Mandy Hubbard, for always being an e-mail away when I need you. And for being a total rock star. To the various people who helped with various aspects of this book. Now that we have Twitter, it’s become so easy to have experts at our fingertips and get help when we need it. I’m so very grateful to Shari Slade, Elenna H., Sara Taylor Woods, Sarah Henson, Kristin W., Tara Wyatt, and Elisabeth H. for your insights and suggestions on everything from analogies to bullet wound cleaning to sparring techniques. You all rock.

To the readers who enjoyed Captive and were excited to get Riley’s story, thank you for your support and for reading! Your excitement over my work only makes me want to produce it faster.

To all the girls in Brighton’s Brigade on Facebook, you all rock so hard. Thank you for your friendship, your support, and your experiences and opinions that you freely offer me when I ask!

And last but not least, to my family and friends who have supported me so much more than I ever imagined. If I could, I’d thank each and every one of you by name, but then the acknowledgments would rival the length of the book. If you’re reading this, and you know me, know I count you among this group. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I love you all.

About the Author

Brighton Walsh lives in the Midwest with her own real-life hero and her two energetic kids who (fortunately) know nothing about the naughty things she puts down on paper. Visit her on the Web at www.brightonwalsh.com or sign up for email updates here.

ALSO BY BRIGHTON WALSH

Captive

Caged in Winter

Tessa Ever After

Plus One

Season of Second Chances

Praise for Brighton Walsh

“A vulnerable but indomitable heroine and a hero who will haunt your dreams long after the last page. Raw, sexy, and unexpectedly tender, Captive is a powerful, gripping story.”

—Kit Rocha, New York Times bestselling author

“A sexy, suspenseful, and deliciously forbidden love story!”

—Laura Kaye, New York Times bestselling author

“Walsh entices readers with the lure of romance and a hint of mystery. Sensuous detail … with intense heat and complex characters.”

—Publishers Weekly

“It will be impossible to put this book down. It was so engrossing, it’ll be a stupid idea to stop. Solid five stars for this one!”

—Nerdy Talks

“Super sexy and romantic, and I want everyone to read Brighton Walsh’s books.… You’ll be hard-pressed not to fall for Ghost and want the best for Madison.”

—Love at First Page

“If you haven’t tried Brighton Walsh in the past, you should definitely try out her books because there is just something magical about her writing that draws you in and prevents you from abandoning the book. Captive was a fantastic novel that made me feel all the feels!”

—Nick’s Book Blog

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Contents

Title Page

Copyright Notice

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25