“Please let me go,” I begged, falling to my knees in front of him, gripping his jeans. “I’ll do anything you want.” I hated myself for it, but I would do anything not to have to go through what I went through last time.

“Just a couple more hours and then he’ll be here,” he replied emotionless, pulling his leg out of my grasp and turning for the door. He slammed it shut behind him, making it rattle on its hinges from the force of it. Clearly, with that one little attempt to escape, I’d just lost all hope of Jimmy being nice to me and trying to help me like he used to. I slumped down to the floor and rolled to my side, curling into a ball, waiting for my nightmare to begin all over again.

After what seemed like forever, but could have been five minutes, I heard shouting from outside the door, followed quickly by gunshots. My head snapped up as my mouth dropped open in shock. Gunshots. Oh my God, the police have come for me! Oh thank you, thank you!

I jumped up and moved away from the door as I heard more shouting. Apparently someone was in the building; they were talking heatedly about repositioning or something.

I smiled hopefully. Please, come on, please! More gunshots. I pressed against the wall, waiting and waiting. My eyes were focussed on the door expectantly. Any second now, a couple of secret service agents would burst through. I chewed on my lip excitedly. I’d never complain about having guards again.

Nothing happened for ages. I was starting to lose hope because I couldn’t hear anymore shooting. Had it been a mistake? Had they searched the building but not been able to find me? Had they left? Or maybe Carter’s men had won and had killed yet more agents, more people could be dead because of me. Suddenly, the door burst open. I looked up, startled, seeing two of Carter’s men dragging someone into the room. The guy was clearly unconscious and his feet dragged on the floor.

My heart stopped as I took in who it was they were dragging.

No! Oh God, please no!

I ran over as they dropped his lifeless body into a heap on the floor. “Call an ambulance! Jimmy, call someone! No, Ashton! Jimmy, help him please?” I begged, the tears flowing again now.

“He’s not dead, Anna. They had to knock him out. He killed seven guys. He’s gonna wish he was dead by the time Carter gets here,” Jimmy replied, shaking his head grimly and walking out of the room.

I ran to the door. “Jimmy, please! Help him, please!” I screamed, banging on the door until my fists hurt. I ran back to an unconscious Ashton. Blood covered his face, his hands were red and bruised and a gash on the back of his head was slowly leaking blood onto the floor. I pressed my shirt on it to stop the bleeding; it didn’t look too bad, but he probably needed stitches. A sick sense of foreboding and history repeating itself washed over me. I closed my eyes, horrified.

This was just like in my dream. The broken, bloodied face that I never wanted to see was now cradled in my lap.

“Ashton, please wake up, please,” I begged, wiping some of the blood from his beautiful face. This was exactly the thing I couldn’t have happen! I couldn’t watch someone else that I loved die right in front of me because of me. “You stupid, stupid, adorable boy! Please wake up, please.” I cradled his head on my lap, rocking him gently as my heart broke all over again.

After a while he opened his eyes slowly, groaning, looking around groggily. My heart sped up. “Ashton, are you okay? Oh God, what the hell are you doing here? Why did you come?” I cried, bending and kissing every inch of his face.

He seemed confused for a split second before understanding shot across his face. He immediately jumped up, wincing as he did so, and pulled me to my feet. He pushed me against the wall, pressing his back against my chest, protecting me whilst he patted his pockets.

“Stop it! There’s no one here,” I croaked, gripping his hand. He turned to face me. I could see the pain in his eyes, but he was trying to keep it from me. I lifted his shirt, and I could see ugly, purple marks all over his stomach, making bile rise in my throat.

“Anna, are you okay? Baby Girl, please say you’re okay,” he begged, pulling me to him and wrapping his arms around me tightly.

I closed my eyes as his smell filled my lungs. The familiar scent that was purely Ashton Taylor and no one else. I loved and missed that smell so much. “I’m okay. But why the hell did you come here? Ashton, I can’t see this, I can’t! This is the only thing I can’t cope with. I sent you away so this wouldn’t happen! Why did you do this to me?” I sobbed. My legs wobbled and finally gave way, so I slumped down against the wall, pulling my knees up to my chest and hugging them tightly. Carter was going to come in and have him beaten to death in front of me, and there would be nothing I could do about it but see it every time I closed my eyes.

Ashton slid down the wall next to me, trying to hide his grimace of pain. “I couldn’t leave you, Anna, I had to try. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you,” he muttered, gripping his hair roughly. I could see he was trying not to cry, and it broke my heart; he never even got sad, let alone cried.

I moved and wrapped my arms around him tightly. “Please don’t. Everything’s going to be fine, we just need to think of a plan,” I lied, knowing it was hopeless. I jumped up and ran to the door. “Jimmy, please! Talk to me please?” I begged, kicking the door in frustration.

“Anna, just settle down. Carter’s just called, he’s not too far away now, it won’t be too much longer,” he answered.