Chapter 55
VI
I leave the hub as soon as my shift ends, slipping out through the side corridor before anyone can stop me. My knee protests every step like it always does all the time now, but I don’t slow. I need air. Space. Somewhere I can breathe without feeling eyes on my back.
I end up in my room the one the guys gave me. The boho space with the soft bed and the string lights and the curtain instead of a door.
I lean back against the wall and slide down until I’m sitting on the floor.
The anger is still there, hot and sharp in my chest. But underneath it is something colder.
Fear.
The girl was right. Being bound makes me visible. A prize. A weakness someone could use.
And I can’t fight her. Can’t defend myself. Can’t even open my mouth without risking everything. I pull my knees up, rest my forehead against them, and close my eyes.
The Favor is gone. The binding is real. And I’m stuck in a system where the only thing keeping me alive is three men who decided I was worth the cost.
I should be grateful. I know I should.
But all I feel is trapped.