A choked sob bursts from my lips before I can stop it, and Judge freezes behind me, his hands digging into my hips. But when he reaches down and tries to move my hair away, tries to see the vulnerability on my face, I can’t handle it.

“No.” I sever our connection, crawling away from him and stumbling to my feet before I break into a run.

I know it’s stupid. I’m fucking naked. Covered in spit and dirt and shame. But I run from the building, into the darkness, only to be snatched from behind and dragged back inside.

“No!” I scream. “Let me go!”

“Mercedes.” His voice has a raw edge that wasn’t there a minute ago. But I refuse to believe he has any feelings now. I can’t.

“Mercedes.” He drags me against him, hauling me back to the room of torture, and collapses into the chair, holding me hostage against his chest.

“Look at me,” he commands.

I don’t.

“Give me those dark eyes. Let me see you.” His voice is softer now, more pleading and less… whatever it was five minutes ago.

“No.” I bury my face into his chest, using my hair as a shield, but it doesn’t protect me.

He drags it away, unveiling me, grabbing me by the chin and forcing my gaze to his.

“You said it’s what you wanted.” Annoyance and shame color his tone.

“I was wrong.” The words heave from my chest. “You win, Judge. You fucking win.”

There’s a long moment of silence, and I use it to gather my strength.

“Tell me it was a lie, or let me walk away forever. Let me go.”

His arms tighten around me, and he shakes his head. “I’m not letting you go.”

“I won’t stay.” My voice wavers, but there’s no doubt I mean it. “I will fight and claw every day until I get out of here. Even if I have to kill myself to do it.”

“No.” The word lashes from his tongue so violently that I can’t deny he means it too. “You aren’t leaving me.”

“Why do you care?” I rasp. “I’m nothing. You said so yourself.”

“You aren’t nothing.” He’s shaking when he brushes his fingers over my face with more affection in one touch than I’ve ever had in my whole life. “You already know that. It’s why you wanted to play this stupid fucking game in the first place.”

“I don’t know that.” My eyes close so I can’t look into his, get lost in them. “What you said felt real. Too real.”

“How does this feel?” He cups the back of my head and kisses me, melting some of my resolve. “How does it feel every time you steal a piece of my soul like the little thief you are?”