I had replayed various scenarios in my head hundreds of thousands of times because I had always known that it was only a matter of time before Josh came back. I thought about the possibility of Josh showing up in my home so often it had almost become a part of my daily life. And I knew that he could catch Sophie if he got his hands on me. Someone would have to pay for being the helping hand I needed all those years ago. The idea had been more terrifying than a sword hanging over my head, but I had still thought about all of the brave and noble things I would do to protect my friend, the woman who had given up everything for me. I thought I would do whatever it took to protect her because she hadn't thought twice about her choice.

But Josh was in my house. My friend and my lover were being held captive. And though it was slightly different from all of the possibilities I had considered it held similar components. Josh, hostages, viciousness, and threats.

I did nothing brave. I did nothing noble.

Josh was taking slow, calculated steps towards me. He moved like he was the proudest hunter in the jungle and I was nothing more than feeble prey that he would devour. And that's exactly how I felt.

With each step he took towards me I took an equal one backwards, scared to leave the two most important people in my semiconscious, just out of reaching distance. The thought of holding my ground crossed my mind, too. Then I visualized him touching me and bile rose in my throat. So we continued to dance. One step forward. One step back. One step forward. One step back.

Without thinking or even noticing I backed myself into the untouched kitchen. I was so focused on Josh and his slow, but steady advances that I didn't notice I was damning myself to easy confinement with all of the counters and cabinets. When my back hit the cool marble of the counter top it was too late. I was trapped in the corner of my kitchen with the most predatory captor the world had ever seen.

"Josh, you don't have to do this." I reasoned.

The words came out of my mouth but in that moment I felt like they were not my own. Maybe it was because I knew they wouldn't work but I said them anyway.

"But I do, pet. " Josh murmured back, a small smile on his lips, "You are acting very defiantly. You know that can't be tolerated, yet you continue to behave so badly. It's clear that I need to teach you a lesson. Something that will resonate in that mind of yours. And every time you forget we will sit down and watch your punishment together."

I watched in confusion as he pointed upward. My eyes followed the gesture and landed on the glowing, red light I had seen before. It was a pair of cameras. One was pointed into the kitchen I was currently in. the other was facing Alistair and Sophie who had become tattered victims. He had been recording the whole encounter for his view pleasure later.

"You're sick." I rasped out, the fear bleeding away.

The blow was brutal and fast, but expected. My hand didn't flinch up to cradle my cheek like it once would've. Instead, I stood perfectly still, ignoring the skin that was no doubt flushing with blood as my body tried to heal itself and the pain that flooded the entire side of my face. After two blink the tears that had rushed to my eyes dispersed and I could stare evenly at Josh again.

"You haven't forgotten everything I taught you." Josh purred, seeming pleased with my lack of response. "But you have become so much braver. I simply can't have that, can I?"

"You always were intimidated by me." I snarled, feeling the incision that my teeth had created on the inside of my mouth with my tongue.

Josh's mouth fell open, seeming stunned by my brazen statement. I wasn't sure where all of this confidence came from, but it felt incredible to use, though it was terribly dangerous as well. Rattling the man who seemed to be perfectly poised in every moment was the satisfaction I needed to push harder. I had always been too spirited for him, even when it came to our fights.

I spat directly at him. A blot of saliva and blood splattered against him pristine dress shirt.

I knew that I would never get away with an act such as that. I knew that my fiancé would snap irrevocably. The slap I had just received would be nothing in comparison to what was coming. I had never dared to do something so heinous and I was sure I would pay dearly.

The years of abuse didn't help me predict what would happen next.

Josh's blue eyes were filled with vehemence. I watched his hand tighten at his side, forming a tight fist. I waited for a hand to close around my throat before he unloaded blow after blow on my body. I expected many ferocious hits to be delivered to my stomach or ribs as those are the spots that often made me cry out. I thought I would be thrown to the ground then brutally beaten until my nose bled all over my shirt and I had severe brain damage.

But then a sultry, sickly sweet expression fell over Josh's face.

"Alistair did this, didn't he?" Josh demanded, "He convinced you to turn against me. He made you defiant and rebellious even though you know it's wrong."

"This has nothing to do with him." I snapped.

"Oh, but it does. I don't appreciate it when someone undoes all of my hard work. And I certainly don't appreciate it when someone tampers with what belongs to me. I'm going to show him that you are mine. You always have been. And you always will be."

One hand closed tightly around my throat, preventing any rebuttal that might have slipped of my tongue. My trained hands stayed down at my sides. Fear rippled through my body, making all of my vital instincts become apparent once more. My only purpose was to survive. I wanted to claw at the hand that was around my neck. I wanted to lash out at him or attempt to scream. I just wanted to suck in another breath that would assure I would live for a while longer. But I was so thoroughly trained, like an overly obedient dog.

Like I was his pet.

My vision began to blur. The hard edges of the world around me began to soften.

My hands stayed down.

I could feel my body swaying ever so slight, like I was drunk. But in all actuality my brain was beginning to shut down.

My hands stayed down.

I could hear my heart beat growing dimmer in my ears.

My hands stayed down.

Then my throat was released. Even all the years of abusing training couldn't have stopped me from being relieved. My mouth fell open immediately, sucking in a lungful of oxygen so quickly it was painful. My ears were ringing. My head was spinning madly. I could feel my arms raising though I wasn't sure why or even if I was controlling the action myself. All I could think about in that second was how grateful I was to be alive.

That feeling ended very abruptly.

My shirt was off. I was standing in my kitchen in the old bra I had worn on the plane. And my ex-fiancé was in front of me. The man who had torn me apart was undressing me. And I was letting him, too concerned about staying alive to fight him in that moment.

Alistair was just behind him, lifting his head ever so slightly. My eyes locked onto his form as I trembled. I saw the green in his beautiful eyes. But it didn't fill me with joy like I thought it would. Now, it filled me with dread. I understood what Josh wanted.

"Camila?" Alistair groaned groggily.

"No." I breathed.

"Oh yes, pet. I'm going to take you right here and he's going to watch the whole thing."

"Please." I begged.

Tears pooled in my eyes as I watched Alistair, a man I had come to love, watch me with as much concern as his muddled brain could muster. He was fighting to stay awake, but the blood that covered his face and the expression of weakness told me he wouldn't win for long.

"Pleading will get you nowhere. You have gravely disobeyed me. Now, it's time that I prove that you are mine. All mine."

Josh's hands went to my waistband. With a firm, unrelenting grip he began to tug downwards. Acting out of desperation and impulse I slammed my flat palms against his chest. He was solid. He didn't fumble or even shift backwards. It was too late, Josh always got what he wanted and there would be no exception now.

A violent blow was delivered to my stomach. I was breathless, my body doubling over instantly. I sucked in harshly, desperately trying to catch the breath that had been knocked out of me, but as I exhaled I felt like I was about to vomit. The pain radiated up my body and I held my breath for a second, trying to get my bearings.

A second was too long of a distraction.

Josh yanked down my pants.

"Camila." Alistair's voice came out stronger, louder.

My watering eyes saw his blurry form. He was sitting straighter, seeming to have regained some of his depleted strength. But he was still fighting and I knew he wouldn't last long.

"You thought you could get away from me." Josh muttered, almost to himself as he grabbed my panties and yanked them down to my ankles. "You could never get away from me."

"Don't touch her!" Alistair shouted. His voice gave way to a hoarse cough.

I could hear Josh undoing his belt. I knew what was coming next but I couldn't watch. All I could do was look beyond the man that was so desperately trying to break me and stare at Alistair. The man I had wanted all along. The man who had never treated me like a victim but had always supported me was going to see how weak and pathetic I truly was. How easy it was for someone else to take me. And I wouldn't even fight it because I was already broken beyond repair.

"I'm sorry, Alistair. I'm so sorry."

And I was. I had been selfish when we had first met. I had put myself before him when he was fighting on the opposing side. But our relationship had progressed and I never bothered to tell him what kind of a man Josh really was. I didn't reveal everything I knew. I never told him what Josh was truly capable of and I had been foolish enough to think that two federal agents on my side would be enough to stop a tyrant.

Now, my selfish behavior would be punished.

A soft clang filled the air as Josh's belt buckle and pants hit the floor. A firm hand laid flat against my collarbone, pushing my upper body backwards. I complied willingly. I could do nothing but sob as Josh positioned my body to suit his needs. I didn't even flinch when the fingers on my left hand brushed against wood. I focused on leaving my body, on being anywhere but here, in this ugly and twisted moment that would break me for good.

"I've waited so long for this." Josh groaned.

I repressed the shudder of disgust, knowing I would get hit for such an action. Instead, I gripped the knife block tightly in my left hand and clenched my teeth together strongly. I shut my eyes, praying that he would choke me so badly that I would not recall this experience ever again.

Josh came closer to me.

"I love you, Camila." Alistair proclaimed, his voice weak once more, "I'll always love you."

The statement shocked my body. But I wasn't the only one who was stunned.

I had done nothing that had infuriated Josh so intensely and I wasn't sure I could. One moment he was only focused on me, on my complete and utter humiliation. His only purpose was to shatter the last bit of strength and resiliency I had in my body. He wanted to destroy me. But Alistair's confession had broken his concentration. He spun away from me, leaving me awkwardly splayed out on the counter, out of breath and dazed.

With the knife block well in my grasp.

I watched as Josh's back was entirely exposed to me. I knew that he wouldn't make a move towards Alistair as I was still his primary target so I had very little time. Through hurting me he wounded all three of his victims in one swoop which meant the words had taken him by surprise but he would still use my body to make Alistair suffer. And he thought I was the weak one, unable to protect myself and unconcerned with leaving me unattended.

My hand blindly searched the grain of the wood, traveling upwards. Then I felt the plastic of a handle. A knife. In one smooth motion I straightened up, drawing the large knife out of the wooden block.

Josh began turning back towards me, seeing my movement out of the corner of his eye.

I swung the metal weapon blindly.

And I stabbed the man who had ruined me.