Chapter9

#Chapter9

Stryker had felt true fear only once before in his life. He had been young and the ice of the frozen pond he had been playing on had given way beneath him.

He didn't remember much of that day. It was something he must have tried to blot out; all that remained was the sense of panic as his head had gone under, ice-cold water assuming his mouth and nose, and the way his own fear had made him feel as though there was a beast inside him trying to rip its way free.

As loud, broken sobs poured from Jamie's mouth, Stryker felt that sense of fear once more. Halting mid beat, his heart constricted painfully in his chest and his breathing hitched in his throat as he struggled to keep his hold on the teenager's thrashing body.

He had broken Jaime; he had no clue how.