Chapter 4

A few days later, Ava' s phone buzzed. A text from Ethan' s number.

Meet me. Abandoned warehouse, Red Hook. Midnight. We need to talk about David' s ashes. And you need to apologize to Chloe.

Ava' s heart tightened. An apology? After everything?

But David' s ashes...

She knew it was likely a trap.

Chloe' s hand was all over this message, the tone too smug, too triumphant for Ethan' s usual curtness. But Ethan would know. He would allow it.

He wanted her to be "taught a lesson." He'd said as much.

She went anyway. What more could she lose?

The warehouse was vast, dark, smelling of mildew and decay.

She stepped inside, her footsteps echoing.

"Ethan?"

Shadows moved.

Three men emerged, not Ethan.

They were large, their faces obscured by the dim light.

Chloe' s work, no doubt. With Ethan' s blessing.

One of them grinned. "Mrs. Hayes. So glad you could make it."

They closed in.

Ava didn't scream. There was no point.

They were rough, brutal.

Hands grabbed her, tore at her clothes. Fists landed.

Pain exploded behind her eyes.

One of them held up a phone, the flash blinding her as they took pictures.

Then, as quickly as it began, it was over.

They left her on the cold, damp concrete, bruised, bleeding, every inch of her body aching.

Her phone, lying nearby, buzzed. A text from Chloe.

Hope you learned your lesson, bitch. Ethan spent the whole day with me. He knows. He approves. Sweet dreams.

Ava lay there, the cold seeping into her bones.

She remembered a time, early in their marriage, a drunken man had harassed her at a restaurant. Ethan had been across the room, but he' d seen. He' d moved so fast. He' d grabbed the man, his voice a low snarl of protectiveness, his fury a shield around her.

Where was that Ethan now?

Gone. Replaced by this monster.

The betrayal was absolute. This was the point of no return.