Madison reached her door, the key trembling slightly in her hand. She just needed one more bag—her laptop and the folder of certifications she’d spent years earning. She’d be in and out in three minutes. Bentley was waiting downstairs.
She pushed the door open. The apartment was pitch black.
"Just three minutes," she whispered to the empty air.
She stepped over the threshold, reaching for the light switch. Before her fingers could graze the plastic, the door behind her slammed shut with a force that rattled the frames on the walls.
A hand, calloused and familiar, exploded from the darkness. It tangled into her hair, yanking her backward with such violence that her neck snapped back. A guttural, wet snarl filled her ear.
"Going somewhere, Maddy?"
The scream was ripped from her throat
