Chapter 2
I was the youngest daughter in my family—also the dumb one, apparently. Got sick as a kid, brain never quite caught up.
At seventeen, my old man tried to sell me to some flea-infested old bastard with a festering neck and piss-yellow teeth.
Even I knew he gave me the creeps.
So I ran.
No one thought I could—everyone assumed I was too slow, too sweet, too damn simple.
But I ran till my feet bled, till the cold creek water numbed the pain.
That’s where Ethan Shaw found me.
He looked like sin—broad chest, mean eyes, jaw carved from anger and oak.
“Daddy, she’s awake!” I heard Winnie chirp behind him.
He had his sleeves rolled up, arms like tree trunks, face unreadable.
I flinched, barely whispered, “Where… where am I?”
Winnie danced around like she’d won the county fair.
“You’re at my house! Are you a fairy or somethin’?”
I stammered. “No… no, I’m not…”
Ethan shut her down real quick, pushing her toward the door.
“Go play with Ellie. This ain’t your business.”
