Chapter 16 Allie #3
At least the roar of those voices fades once we’re outside. With the decrease in volume, the tightness in my chest loosens.
“I can’t believe he did that,” I whisper while Jackson leads me to a black Lamborghini. I’m completely numb as he helps me inside. Is this what shock feels like?
Once he’s behind the wheel, he glances at me and starts the engine. “Is what he said true?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Please, Jackson,” I beg as he pulls the car away.
“It’s a good thing I rented my own car tonight,” he notes as the country club fades behind us. “I thought I might drive around after the gala, see if anything interesting is going on.”
“You wouldn’t have found anything,” I murmur, staring out the window.
Dammit. Kade fucked everything up tonight. God, he used to complain about his father saying that to him so often, and now I can’t help but agree with that asshole Roman Bishop. And the thought pisses me off even more.
“I don’t know. Tonight has been pretty interesting,” he points out, then groans as if realizing that wasn’t the right thing to say. “Sorry. Too soon?”
Maybe, but it’s exactly what I need right now. Of all people, Jackson saved me tonight. A little slice of normalcy in the middle of a fucking nightmare.
“It’s okay,” I murmur, trying to make sense of everything that happened.
What the hell is Kade thinking? Not only did he ruin the night but he also wants to take everything from me now?
Did I hurt him that badly? Tears fill my eyes, but I blink them away before they can roll down my cheeks.
I won’t cry because of him. Even if I want to, even if I’m sad and want to know why he wouldn’t at least think of the impact this would have on me.
Because he’s selfish.
I’m numb as we roll through the gates of the ranch, coming up to the house. Only the porch light above the door cuts through the dark night.
“Let me walk you inside,” Jackson offers. He even unbuckles my belt when I don’t make a move to do it myself. “Tonight’s revelation was shocking, but soon enough, everything will be all right. It only seems bad right now. Eventually, people will find something new to talk about.”
I don’t think it’s that simple. But I don’t tell him that. He leads me up to the door, and I pull my keys out of my purse. My fingers slip against the keys, and suddenly, I’m exhausted. It feels like I could sleep for days.
“I’m sorry tonight ended this way,” I murmur while opening the front door.
“It’s okay,” he responds and follows me inside once I get the door unlocked. “We all have problems, some bigger than others. I’m sure your mom will explain everything.” I watch him as he looks around, his eyes darting over the entire space.
“I’m sure she will. Hopefully, that conversation can be had on another day.
Right now, I just want to go to bed and pretend this night never happened.
” I realize he hasn’t turned to leave or said goodbye.
Warning bells go off in my head, but I’m so exhausted I ignore them.
With my hand on the banister, I turn to face him and discover he’s standing right on my heels.
He’s too close. “Thank you for bringing me home,” I say as pointedly as I can, praying this isn’t another one of his stupid dominance games.
“I don’t know if I feel comfortable leaving you here alone.” He looks around again, stroking his jaw. “You’re by yourself, right? The house seems so empty.”
“The staff have most likely gone home for the evening,” I tell him. “But I’m content being alone. I’ll be fine.”
“If you could see your face right now, you would know you won’t be.” He gestures for me to keep going. “Go ahead. I’ll stay with you until your mom gets home. She’ll be glad to know you weren’t alone.”
In the effort to maintain whatever truce we’ve built, I gesture to the sitting room off the entry. “We can wait here. My mom won’t be long, I’m sure.”
“Place looks nice,” Jackson says.
I’m barely paying attention as I remove my shoes while we walk. “Thanks. Though it’s not like I’ve ever had any say in how it’s decorated.”
I must really be the stupidest person ever born, putting my back to him.
The whole thing becomes sickeningly clear before he ever puts his hands on me from behind. “What—”
I don’t get the chance to finish my question.
My words are cut off when he spins me in place and crushes me against him.
“Let me take your mind off things,” he growls close to my face.
His hands are everywhere now—groping my ass, squeezing my boobs.
All I can do is slap at them and twist my face away when he tries to smash his mouth against mine.
Fuck. I’m an idiot. He already showed me the real him, but I just wanted so desperately to have an ally. Someone to trust. I can’t even let my guard down for a fucking second.
“No! Get the fuck off me!” I scream.
“You are such a fucking child.” He laughs before burying his face in my neck, licking my skin even when I claw at the back of his head. Pain doesn’t seem to bother him.
No! I can’t let this happen! He won’t be my first. Not like this.
Please, God, not like this.
Everything I’ve ever learned about defending myself comes rushing back. I try to stomp on his foot, but I took my shoes off, so all it does is make him laugh.
“Come on, Allie,” he pants, backing me against the doorframe hard enough that I yelp in pain. “It’s not like we won’t be fucking soon enough anyway. Might as well get acquainted with each other now, right?”
“No! Stop it!” I reach up, flailing blindly, and manage to drag my nails down his cheek.
I can’t see much in the dark, but the way he hisses in pain confirms that I got him.
I can only hope he’s more concerned with the pain than me, and maybe I can break free.
That hope is short-lived when he slaps me across the face, making my entire world explode in white-hot pain.
Fear clings to me, and I can barely comprehend what is happening. Knickknacks fall off a nearby table and scatter across the hardwood. The throbbing in my cheek intensifies, and I whimper, trying to force air into my lungs.
Jackson’s deep, enraged voice booms in my ear. “You fucking bitch!”
I need to get away. I have to. I continue to struggle, but it’s futile.
Without warning, he shoves me onto the floor.
I try to pull myself together, to make a break for the door, scurrying backward, but he’s on me in a flash, his massive body blanketing mine.
I flail my legs and push and shove at his chest, doing whatever I can to make him move, but he doesn’t.
“You know I was going to be nice to you. Gentle, even, at least for me. But it doesn’t seem like you want me to be gentle or nice.”
“Please stop! Please. You don’t have to do this.”
“You’re right, I don’t have to. I want to.” I can see the faintest smile on his lips, and I lose it. I sob, grabbing anything I can—pulling his hair, pounding his back, kicking his thighs and ass. It doesn’t stop his hands from shoving my dress up higher and higher with rough jerks.
This isn’t happening. It can’t be.
I start to scream then, thrashing my entire body, doing whatever I can to stop him. He knows this, or at least assumes it, because he wraps one of his hands around my throat and squeezes, cutting off my air supply.
“If you can’t keep quiet, then I suppose you don’t get to come,” he breathes against my cheek, his face filling my vision.
Black spots form in my vision, and I wish so badly I’d pass out right this very second.
At least then I wouldn’t have to feel his hands on me.
Using his free hand, he yanks on my thong, and I hear the fabric rip as I gasp for air.
“It didn’t have to be this way…” he whispers against my ear, and those are the last words I hear before it all goes dark.