Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
Wrenching her arm from his grip, her mom took a step back, bumping into the side of the couch. With him looming over her, she went tumbling backward, onto the bed of cushions.
“Mom!” she shouted, jumping up and racing across the room.
Before she could reach the couch, he threw out a hand, making contact with her chest. Between her momentum and his force, the impact punched the air out of her lungs. Her body crumpled, knees hitting the hardwood floor. Pain throbbed in the place he’d hit her.
“Stop!” her mom screeched, scrambling to her feet.
His huge body stood between them. Face tight with fury, he roared, “Sit down!”
It was as though he’d slapped her mom. She froze in place, eyes wide, lower lip trembling. The sight made her stomach twist.
“Wait,” she croaked, reaching for the hem of his shirt. “Wait. She didn’t—didn’t do anything.”
He batted her hand away. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Leave us alone,” her mom said in a shaky voice.
He laughed but the sound was ugly and sinister. “I don’t think so. Get your things. You’re leaving with me.”
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. “No! We’re not going anywhere with you!”
They stared one another down for a long moment. Only her mother’s breathing was audible. She tried not to blink, not to show him any weakness. Tried to calm her heaving chest. Instead of barking more commands or advancing on her, he scanned the room, brow furrowing. “Where’s that asshole?”
“He’s on his way. He’ll be here soon. You should go.”
He snorted. “You think he can protect the two of you?”
“I know he can,” she blurted out, rising to her feet. “Go before he gets here or you’ll be sorry.”
His lip curled into a nasty sneer. “If you don’t get your ass moving and come with me, you’re going to be sorry. In more ways than one.”
Her stomach pitched as his meaning became clear. “No,” she whispered. “I won’t go. We’re not going.”
As he reached for her, the sound of her mother’s voice pierced the air. “Leave her alone!”
Her mother lunged for him but it was too late.
His fingers were already threaded through her hair, yanking at her scalp, dragging her around like a rag doll.
With both hands, she clawed at his wrists.
Shrieks filled the room. Not hers. Her mother’s.
Bile rose up the back of her throat. She closed her eyes as tightly as she could, silently begging the one person who might help them to be there when she opened them.
But before she could, his grip on her hair tightened until she felt strands tear from her scalp and then she was being propelled forward, fast. Too fast. Pain exploded across her face, sharp and violent, and she prayed for oblivion.
But then she heard his voice again and she knew she’d never be that lucky.
“Both of you are coming with me. If you put up a fight, I’ll hurt you—both of you—and when I do, I’ll make sure you feel it for days.”