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Prologue

Everything about the sight in front ofa kiss to my boyfriend, Mark, as he drove off to work Yet there sat his truck in his usual spot Instead of rushing upstairs to see if he was all right and find out why he was ho at the white Jeep parked beside his truck

My chest tightened at the sight A cold shiver of dread crept up h nized that Jeep It was definitely not one I wanted to see

I biton it when I felt Hilary’s hand on ht, aard smile

“Maybe he wasn’t feeling well, Cassandra” She hunched her shoulders But I could see the concern clouding her usually bright-chestnut eyes as she glanced at the Jeep and then back at ”

What was I thinking? Mark was the perfect boyfriend Five wonderful years spent in co to spend the rest of my life with The rey, taking ht?

I bolted up thetherippedsilly but the dread that settled in h my mind With my feet planted firmly on the welcome mat, I closed my eyes and whispered a silent prayer that I’d find Mark with his infectious smile and a perfectly justified reason as to why he came back home The knob turned in my clammy hand, unlocked, as always

My stoh the e open room with exposed brick walls There was a tiny kitchenette and a partition separating the bedroo size bed and small dresser

Fear froze s wouldn’t move any farther They were suddenly stiff as boards with cinder blocks for feet

Erratic thoughts of the owner of that Jeep being in here pounded in my head Bile rose in the back ofI cleared my throat and opened my mouth, but my words were cut off by a loud feruff voice I was certain I would cherish until I was a little old worandchildren “Yeah…oh, baby”

I doubled over The sound of his voice ripped the air coers dug intoto hold me up

“Coet out of here” She tried to helpmy body and mind overwhelmed me

I shook e to collapse and cry uncontrollably It had to be a bad dream

Anger grew inside iving ht and take the short steps around the partition

My hands puht fists as my feet led the way and stopped at the end of the bed My lips pressed into a hard line, taking in the sight before me

Mackenzie was on her back proving every rumor about her was true

“Oh Mark, baby you’re so…Cassandra!” Mackenzie’s eyes opened wide

Mark’s head shot up, to look over his right shoulder His eyes bulged when he caught lare Cool steel filled my nerves I didn’t blink or flinch

He shot off the bed, shoving Mackenzie’s naked body aside, as if to e of the bed and landed with a loud smack on the hard wood floor

“It’s not what you think, Cassie” He reached out to touch rabbed the pillow to hold in front of himself when Hilary stepped into view

Mackenzie scurried around the floor, clutching the sheet to her body, trying to collect her clothing scattered around the rooh school Mackenzie Taylor had been known for only one thing: stealing boyfriends She disposed of the otistical, bitch attitude I shot her ascowl and then returned my focus back to the bastard in front of me

“Cassandra, please” Mark’s voice dripped with desperation as he stepped toward ust

“I’ll be back toet my stuff” My tone was cold and clipped “Don’t be here”