‘I won’t go quietly,’ she whispered. ‘I mean the van, the journey; I can handle that but... I won’t just bend over for them, Rushe.’ ‘You listen to me,’ he said, tightening his hold on her hand. ‘I don’t want you to give up. Don’t goad them into hurting you. You’ve got a mouth on you, Kitten, but it’s mine, and I’m telling you to keep it shut.’
