Chapter 203 - Talia

I stared at the door. Wondered what had spooked Arkady so badly. Did it have to do with the men who'd just been in here? Were they coming back?

The breath backed up in my lungs as the bottom of my belly dropped away. My heart started to pound as every single ache and pain in my body shrieked in remembered agony. I shook my head. I couldn't go through that again. Not ever. But certainly not right now.

I huddled against the wall, my gaze glued to the door. Air struggled to penetrate my lungs. My lungs pinched and shook inside my chest. They couldn't come back. They couldn't come back.

Just as the edges of my vision were starting to go black, I sucked in a huge breath. Slapped myself across the face. "Get your shit together, T."

Almost as if I was standing outside myself, I nodded to the invisible me. I could do this. I could get control. I could bend destiny and fate to my will.

Taking another deep breath, I pulled it deep into my lungs. Held it for as long as I could. Push