2nd death

Tamara's POV

Tears pricked my eyes as I pulled her hands away from the chains. “No, Violet. You’re not going back to him. Not ever again.”

She looked up at me, her face pale and gaunt. “This isn’t your fault,” she whispered, as if reading my mind. “Richard… he’s always been like this. He won’t let me divorce him. He’s best friends with Jack. There’s nothing I can do.”

My heart sank. Jack. He had allowed this to happen. He knew what kind of man Richard was, and he had done nothing to stop it. I felt my rage simmering beneath the surface. I had hoped, foolishly, that Jack was changing. But this—this was proof that he was still the same. Still horrible.

I gently cupped Violet’s face, wiping away her tears. “I won’t let him hurt you anymore. I promise.”

She looked at me with wide, fearful eyes as I helped her stand, her legs shaking beneath her. “What are you going to do?” she asked.

“I’m taking you out of here,” I said firmly, wrapping my arm around her waist as I started leading her ou