Married at Gunpoint, Loved at Dawn

Elena didn’t open the box. For three days, the key burned in her pocket—literally, she’d transferred it to every pair […]

Elena’s hand healed slowly over the next three days. The stitches itched. The bandage had to be changed twice daily.

The boxes started arriving the next morning. Elena was in her room, trying to focus on a book from Rafe’s

Elena spent the morning avoiding her thoughts. She swam laps in the indoor pool until her arms ached, trying to

Elena stood outside Rafe’s bedroom door at 10 PM, wearing pajamas that had appeared in her closet—silk shorts and a

Elena spent the rest of the afternoon in a daze, the weight of the necklace a constant reminder against her

Elena spent the afternoon exploring her room like an archaeologist examining a tomb. Every drawer was stocked with clothes in

Elena woke to silence. Not the comfortable quiet of her aunt’s house where pipes clanged and Danny’s alarm blared through

The dress arrived at dawn. Elena heard the knock and knew—somehow knew—that her life as she’d understood it had exactly

Elena’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking. She pressed them flat against her thighs, willing the tremor to stop, but her body