Prologue

Large hands pinned her down to the bed, their fingers squeezing so painfully she knew she would bruise. She tossed her body in every direction, hoping to gain an inch. His lips were everywhere, her neck, her collar bone, everywhere. Thick rope slid around her wrists, tightening as she struggled against her bonds. Her cries were deafening, her whimpers pathetic. She felt so weak, so powerless.

He spread her knees, settling himself between. She screamed, praying with all her strength that someone would come to her rescue. His hands grabbed her, grasping every luscious curve, feeling his way down her body.

She tossed her head side to side trying to escape him.

He rose up and clutched her cheeks, squeezing until her lips puckered. His turned up into a malicious sneer. He pressed his mouth on hers, forcing his tongue into her mouth. She did the only thing she could think of. She bit down, hard. Blood squirted in her mouth and she gagged, ripping her face from his to turn away.

“Bitch!” he gasped, the palm of his hand slapping her cheek.

Pain blossomed within her face, stars dancing before her eyes. A soft cry of pain slid past her swollen lips.

His hands fumbled at her minute hips, lifting them off the dust encrusted bed. His black eyes bore down on her, the promise of pain radiating from them.

“You’re going to love this Angelcakes,” he whispered as he leaned closer, his teeth flashing in the dim light, “Every minute of it.”

Tears stained her cheeks, her lower lip quivering when he rose above her. She couldn’t help but glance down, a fresh spark of fear igniting when she took all of him in.

With a cruel grin, he plunged.

Angelina bolted up in her bed, her skin slick with sweat, her breathing ragged from fright. Her hair was plastered to her forehead and with a quick swipe, she brushed it off her skin. It was a familiar dream, one she suffered through at least one night a week. It was something she couldn’t seem to escape. It didn’t matter how many therapists her mother asked her to see, it was constantly there in the back of her mind. It just wasn’t something someone forgot.

Shadows encased her room, only urging her pulse faster. Her heart was beating so hard she could hear it in her ears.

Unfortunately for Angelina, it wasn’t just a nightmare. It was a memory. One she wished more than anything to forget.

It had happened five years ago, almost to the day. It must have been the reason behind the increase of nightmares. This week they had made an appearance each night, leaving her sleepless and exhausted.

Her mind drifted to that night but instead, she skipped over the harsh memories to the ones of being rescued and warm again. Officer Robinson had been her knight in shining armor.

New to the force, he and his supervisor had been the closest to respond to the calls. Someone had heard her cries for help and called the police. He had been the only male she had allowed to touch her. He had the kindest eyes she had ever seen. So warm, so caring. After they had tossed the metal bracelets on her attacker, he had been the one to care for her.

He had helped the paramedics and even rode with her in the ambulance. She had been terrified whenever he tried to leave.

She pictured his warm brown eyes, remembered his gentle touch, and slowly her pulse returned to normal. He was someone who hadn’t tried to hurt her, he was someone who had been there for her at the most horrifying moment of her life, and he was someone who had made sure he had been locked up for a long time.

She lay back down, her eyes wide as she stared at the door. Some nights it was hard to fall back to sleep. She would simply lie there and imagine him coming through the door again, those cruel, soulless eyes intent on her. Tonight though, she forced herself to focus on Officer Robinson. She pulled his brown eyes from her memory, the sharp jaw line, the soft lips...

Within moments she was fast asleep, the memory of her hero sharp in her mind.