Chapter 16
"Baby, I missed you," Damon says, his hand clamped around my wrist. I know it will leave a bruise.
Graham turns, his jaw tightening. "Get your fucking hands off my girl." He rushes toward Damon.
Damon raises his hands. "Sorry. I had no idea she was your girl. From our marriage certificate, I thought she was my wife." Malice fills his voice.
My stomach drops. This isn't how I wanted Graham to find out.
Graham's knuckles turn white. "What the fuck is he talking about?" he spits at me.
I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. I was terrified.
Damon chuckles. "Looks like you've been enjoying yourself without me. That's all right. We have plenty to discuss. Especially that abortion you had." He puts his hands in his pockets and walks away.
Graham rounds on me. His voice booms, making me jump. "WHAT THE FUCK IS HE TALKING ABOUT?"
I start crying, my stomach knotting. I feel as though I might throw up. "Graham... you don't understand. It's..."
He shouts again. "Are you married?"
Tears pour down my face. "Please, Graham. It's complicated. Let me..."
"IT'S A YES-OR-NO QUESTION, NORA! ARE YOU FUCKING MARRIED?"
I begin to shake, my heart slowly breaking. "Y-yes. But, Graham..." I step toward him, and he lifts his hands to stop me.
He breathes hard. "Were you pregnant?"
My eyes widen in horror. "Yes, but, Graham..."
He turns away, and I follow him. "Graham, please let me explain. There's much more to it."
He whirls around, his manner vicious. "Is that what you do? Your husband can't give you good orgasms, so you give it up to any guy who shows you a little kindness?"
Now my blood boils. "Are you fucking serious? I'm trying to explain, and you won't let me!" I shout.
His face twists. "I KNOW ENOUGH. YOU'D PROBABLY ABORT MY BABY, TOO, WOULDN'T YOU?"
Still crying, I take his hand. "No, I wouldn't. I care about you. Please let me explain everything."
He seizes my wrist and shoves me away. "Don't fucking touch me. You're worse than Vanessa. She left me for a rich guy. Hell, you were already married to one and just used me for your own pleasure."
I shake my head, sick to my stomach. "No, Graham. It isn't like that."
I catch his arm, but he tears it from my grasp, making me stumble backward. "Don't fucking touch me. You disgust me. I never want to see your face again." He gets into his truck and speeds away.
I fall to my knees, burying my face in my hands as I sob. My heart breaking feels worse than any beating.
"Oh God. He found me," I whisper to myself. I have to run. I'm sorry, Bianca and Renzo. I hail a cab and head home.
Inside my apartment, I grab my bag and hurry toward the bedroom. I need clothes and money. Then I have to get out, fast.
The instant I switch on the light, someone grabs my throat and throws me onto the bed.
"Did you really think you could run and I wouldn't find you?" Damon's jaw clenches with fury.
I whimper and thrash, trying to throw him off. His grip tightens around my neck. I can barely breathe. I clutch his hands, struggling to pry them loose.
Bianca's POV
I look at Owen and catch him admiring my whole body. "Baby, where are Graham and Nora?"
He smirks. "Probably heading back to his place." His wink is suggestive.
I shake my head. "I don't have my phone. Can you call Graham so I can tell Nora good night? They left before I could say goodbye."
He laughs and draws me into a corner to make the call. He puts it on speaker. After it rings, Graham answers, his voice booming with anger.
Graham: WHAT?
Owen gives me a worried look.
Owen: What the fuck, dude? Where are you and Nora?
Graham: I'm going home. I assume Nora's off to fuck her husband now that he's back.
My eyes widen in horror. He found her. Owen looks at me, bewildered, and I speak.
Me: Where is she?
Graham: Don't know. Don't fucking care. Tell me, Bianca. Did you know she was married, got pregnant, and had an abortion?
Me: Graham, that isn't the truth. It's not the whole story!
Graham: YOU SOUND JUST FUCKING LIKE HER! YOU BOTH DISGUST ME!
Owen: Watch your fucking tone. You're my brother, but I don't care how big you are. I'll kick your ass for shouting at my girlfriend.
Ignoring Graham's outburst, I turn to Owen. "We have to go. Nora's in trouble. He's going to kill her."
Graham: What did you say?
Me: If you'd fucking listen to either of us, you'd know she wasn't in a loving marriage.
Her husband, Damon, basically raped her.
He beat the shit out of her, broke multiple bones, even fractured her skull.
One night, he accused her of cheating and went after her.
She ran, tripped, and fell down the stairs.
She miscarried without even knowing she was pregnant.
He brought her home and beat her again, nearly to death.
She was terrified he'd kill her, so she ran for her life.
She ended up here and wouldn't tell anyone a thing, afraid he'd find her.
I didn't know they were married, but it explains why she kept refusing you in the beginning.
I'm guessing she was forced into it, because she said her father gave her to him.
That's the short version. There's a lot more.
Worry fills Owen's face. "Fuck, Bianca. We need to get to her apartment now."
Graham: I'm on my way. I have my handgun. She probably hates me now.
Me: Yes, she probably does. But you might still redeem yourself. If Damon's in town, I doubt her abusive father is far behind.
We end the call, and Owen takes my hand, hurrying me to his SUV.
My leg shakes with anxiety. Owen rests his hand on it. I look at him, crying. "We have to get to her in time."
He kisses the back of my hand. "We will. I promise." He drives faster, weaving through traffic.
Nora's POV
Damon takes a knife and slices down the front of my dress. The blade scrapes my chest, drawing blood. I squirm at the pain.
"You let him fuck you, didn't you? I'm going to give it to you so hard you'll never even think of looking at another man," he says.
Terrified of what he'll do, I slam my head into his as hard as I can, hurting myself, too.
When he leans back, I drive my knee into his groin and shove him off.
Still dizzy, I scramble from the bed. He catches my hair and yanks, and I feel strands tearing from my scalp.
I swing my fist backward with everything I have and hit him in the face.
He releases me and clutches his nose. We both realize I've broken it.
"You're going to fucking pay for that." He shoves me to the floor and kicks my stomach.
"I'll make sure you can never have children again.
No man will want you. Especially Graham.
" He keeps kicking. I curl around my stomach, trying to protect myself, and I'm almost certain one of his kicks breaks my wrist.
I scream and cradle my wrist, gritting my teeth as I try to hold back tears.
I kick his kneecap as hard as I can. He buckles and falls. I get up and open my nightstand drawer, hesitating over the gun Graham accidentally left here. I hear Damon rising behind me. Quickly, I snatch it up, disengage the safety, and cock it. I turn and aim straight at his face.
He smirks. "Wow. You've grown some big balls. I can't wait to break you."
I breathe deeply. "I have. Take another step, and I'll shoot. Just leave. Forget me and leave me alone."
He shakes his head. "Can't do that, princess. You're mine."
He steps toward me. BANG.
I watch him drop to the floor. Smoke fills the room. I shake as I realize I've shot him. Killed him. My heart pounds. I see the bullet wound between his eyes and the blood pouring out.
I run into the bathroom and vomit, my stomach twisting. Bent over the toilet, I dry-heave until there's nothing left. Then I rinse my mouth and wash my hands. I hurry back to the bedroom and throw clothes into my bag. If Damon found me, my father probably isn't far behind. I'll change in the car.
As I leave the bedroom, my father rushes at me. He grabs my throat and slams me into the wall. "You little bitch! You killed Damon! He was funding my company!"
I scream. "Please stop. Please... I'm begging you."
He slams me against the wall again, making me writhe in pain. "You sound just like your whore of a mother. She begged me to spare her life after I found out she'd been fucking my business partner."
His grip tightens. "I suppose I'll have to give you to another investor."
My teeth clench. I can barely force air past his hand. "No. I won't go."
He punches my ribs. "You'll do what I tell you."
Suddenly, he's pulled off me, and Graham is punching him over and over.
I stand clutching my ribs. When I turn, I see Bianca and Owen running into the apartment.
I rush toward them, and a thunderous bang makes me look back.
My father had drawn a gun on Graham, but Graham was faster.
He shot my father before he could pull the trigger.
I collapse into Bianca's arms, sobbing, my whole body trembling. She rubs my back. "It's over, Nora. It's over."
My sobs deepen, and my legs give way. Owen catches me and lifts me into his arms. I bury my face against his chest and cry harder.
"Oh my God... I killed him." He carries me outside while Bianca walks beside us, stroking my arm.
He sets me on the step with her. I see police approaching.
Owen goes down to speak to them briefly, then two officers follow him into my apartment.