21. Control
Control
Willa
W hat a day. What a flippin’ horse hair of a day. It started off great, but I won’t lie, the news that Brooks is here really put a damper on my mood. The whole damn experience for that matter. I have no idea who Amity was talking to when she came over to show me the picture of him from the other side of the arena, letting Tilly and I know about him. Which has made me want to do some best friend prying, because she has been either texting or talking on her phone since we got here.
To the issue at hand, I don’t doubt for a second Brooks knows I am here, but for the life of me, I can’t imagine what he is doing here. He doesn’t ride, and it was never really his kind of scene to partake in. I know he hated that I was part of it and took time from him.
The arena is getting set up for the bull riding tonight, and I am more than ready to take a shower then relax and watch. The girls and I first were able to pull over an extra guard to watch our horses in the paddock because there is no way I trust Brooks. He may have to stay away from me, but what is stopping him from doing something stupid or dangerous where I’m concerned? I might have been naive a few years ago, but dammit if I don’t know now, narcissistic abusive assholes never change. Leaving the girls at the paddocks, I head back into the arena to the locker room showers.
Arms are all the sudden wrapped around me, squeezing me tight as I feel hot breath at the base of my neck. I don’t recognize the smell. and I am too frozen in fear to look anywhere but straight ahead.
“Is that how you treat an old friend?” The voice is low and hoarse. The arms slowly release me to turn me around. Looking up, I am ready to slap the hell out of him.
Grabbing my wrist, he stops me mid-strike. “Damn, Willa Bee, I forgot just how feisty you are.”
“Damnit, Luke! You can’t just be running around here and grabbing people from behind. You’re lucky the back of my heel didn’t meet your nutsack tonight.” I growl, glaring at him.
“My apologies, Willa. I forgot your history. I was just so excited to see you on the lineup and out there doin’ your thing today.”
“Thanks, Luke. It’s fine. I take it you are riding tonight. Who did you draw?”
“That damn giant bastard, Spook.” My eyes go wide because I know exactly who he just mentioned. That bull has some of the longest horns I have seen on a rodeo bull, and he takes no prisoners. If you fall off of Spook, you better be quick to get up before he stomps all of you, or worse, throws you across the dirt.
“Good luck with that one tonight. The girls and I will be in the stands cheering you on. Oh by the way… Since you are here, do you have my horse trailer by any chance?”
“Ah shit, Willa, look at the time. I gotta go. We can catch up later.” He kisses my cheek before sprinting away.
“Damn you, Luke. I’m going to track your ass down! You can’t charm your way out of this!” I shout out to him.
Muttering to myself that I am going to literally kick his ass, I walk to the locker room, knowing damn well he could charm himself out of any situation. Even could sell fire to a dragon. I drop my bag on the bench, pull out my shower stuff, and lay my clothes out, all while noticing there are at least 4 other people in here right now. I do enjoy the fact that there are shower stalls here, unlike the guys locker room is just wide open.
Relaxation finally hits me as I lean against the wall, letting the water pour over me. With so many big wins today, I feel relieved that maybe now is finally my time to win this. Sure, I have a long way to go, but Ringo and I are killing it out there. With each pass, we get more attuned with each other and faster. With all of this going on, I wish I could call Nash and share the news. We have not verbally spoken since he left my house that day. Hades, I miss that man. The water turns off next to me, pulling me out of my Nash daydream.
Now it’s eerily quiet, too quiet. “Hello,” I say loud enough that someone could answer me if they are at least in this back section. Silence is all I get. Looking at my watch, I see the bull riding starts in twenty minutes, so I guess I need to get my ass in gear. Rinsing the conditioner out of my hair and soap off my body, I turn the water off and wrap myself up in my towel.
“Nice of you to finally come out and join me.” This time I do not need to even look when I hear the voice that turns my body cold as nails are being driven in. I begin to feel lightheaded, thinking this must be a nightmare.
“Oh come on, sweetheart. You might as well walk all the way out here before I come get you. Make this easy on yourself.”
Pushing to get my nerves together, I straighten up and walk out to the locker area to see him sitting next to my bag and thumbing through my phone.
“Why are you here, Brooks?”
“To see you of course.”
“You are not allowed near me. You should not be in the room, let alone this building with me in it.”
“Oh, sweetheart. Do you really think a piece of paper is going to stop me after all this time?” The flicker in my eyes must tell him everything he needs to know. “You really do. That is cute, Willa. You always had that innocence about you. Cute but annoying at times.”
“You need to leave, Brooks.”
“I’m here with some friends. Thought I would just come by to say hi, no harm done.” As he stands up and walks towards me, he rakes his eyes over my body. “You looked real good out there today.” He moves in closer as I start to take steps back. He doesn’t stop until my back slams against the lockers, holding on to my towel for dear life. “Now, Willa, you think I really want to hurt you after all this time? Sure, you ruined my life for a few years. Had to move aways from my friends and family, but those are just bygones, right?” Brooks’ fingers inch toward my towel, and I feel his touch on my skin, trying to pull the towel off of me.
“Please, just leave me be.” My muscles tighten as I use all my strength to hold the towel on my body.
“You can scream, but no one can hear you. You can run, if you can get past the door.” He gives me a wink that sends aching chills down my spine. “I think it is past time we reminisce about the good times, don’t you think?” His palm rides up my bare leg, inching close to my sex, leaving me shaking.
“I am going to need you to calm down, sweetheart, and enjoy what I’m about to give you.” Yanking my hair to the right, Brooks moves me from the lockers, then with all his strength, he tosses me to the floor, leaving me scrambling to get my towel back over my body. But he is so much quicker than I am and throws it to the side.
“You are still the best pussy I ever had, Willa. Do you think your new boyfriend will be okay with me taking back what belongs to me?” My expression from bitch changes to fear as much as I wish I could fight it. “I read your texts. I know what you have been up to lately. Tell me, does he know how delicate you are? How easy you bruise?” Growling, he pushes his thumb into a pressure point on my leg that shoots pain up my back and over. I cry in pain. “Don’t you start crying, you know how much I despise that.”
“Brooks, please just let me go. Go live your life and leave me alone.”
SLAP!
“Someone has forgotten her manners. You do not speak unless spoken to.”
SLAP !
“Do you remember now?” All I can do is nod as the sting on both my cheeks overwhelms my senses. “Good. Now, sweetheart, we can do this the easy way by you giving in, or you fight me, leaving me no choice but to harm this precious body and face so you remember who I am to you. What’s it going to be?”
Gritting through my teeth, I scream, “Fuck you!” Bracing myself for what surely is to come, I’m surprised when it doesn’t. I slowly look up, meeting his face of astonishment. SHIT.
“You always had a dirty mouth. I think it’s about damn time someone shuts you up for good. But not before I have my way with you.” A swift punch to the side of my head causes me to fall back, seeing stars.
Everything is swirling around me, but I feel him above my naked body, palming my breast, still talking, but I am unable to make any sense of it. I hear a belt come off then I feel it being wrapped around my wrists and tightened against the bench. Trying to focus, Brooks pulls his dick out of his pants, giving it a few strokes before coming back to hover above me. I find all my strength, letting out the loudest scream I can muster up. That earns me a punch in my sides, not once but twice. I scream again, and he continues to punch my side until I am positive at least one rib is cracked.
“You know I am the best you will ever have, so just lay there and enjoy it, sweetheart.”
Right then, I hear banging on the door. Several muffled male and female voices yelling through. I yell back and take my chance, kneeing Brooks in his manhood since he is distracted by the noise from the other side of the door. He bends over, so I crawl backwards as quickly as I can. Fuck, I am tied to the bench. I can’t go anywhere.
“You fucking bitch. You will pay for that.” With that, he clenches his fist, and it heads straight for my face. I feel it hit, once, twice, three times, then nothing. I hear muffled voices. Only seeing shadows move around me in the darkness. I feel my arms being released then coming back to my body. I feel my body being carried away. Unable to make any shapes, movements, or voices out, I close my eyes completely.