Elisa Monroe's controlling husband Alex declares it's time for them to buy a house and start a family, but Elisa doesn't want either. He manipulates her into buying the house anyway, and she realizes that the only way to have a life that belongs to her is to leave him. But how? Marshalling support from her colleagues, her therapist and domestic violence workers, Elisa begins the slow process of breaking free. But Alex is not willing to let her go, and he escalates from bullying to outright abuse, revealing that he is a much more dangerous creature than she could ever have imagined. Will Elisa escape with her life? Or will what lies beneath the second skin finally devour her alive? Trigger warning: This paranormal suspense novel contains scenes of reproductive rape and domestic violence. Reader discretion is advised.