Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
Danika
My phone vibrates on my end table, but I roll back over, pulling the covers over my face.
Tequila hasn’t stopped calling since yesterday. But I haven’t been able to move. My bed sheets smell like him, and I hug them close never wanting to forget.
“Fuck him!” I yell out to no one except me, throwing my pillow across the room.
Tequila sent me messages saying no one could contact Liem. But it’s not my problem. He wants to take off and run away. That’s fine. See ya later, buddy. I don’t need you. I’m fine. Totally fine.
My phone buzzes and I let out a fierce groan. “Okay, okay!” I snatch my phone off the wooden table and answer,” I’m fine. I’m not dead. I’m not being held captive inside a warehouse. I’m safe in my bed, not at all wallowing in self-pity. I’m totally fucking fine.”
There’s a short pause before Tequila speaks, “Okayyyy. Well, that’s good. I will be checking off searching creepy warehouses from places to look off my list.”
There’s a quick silence before me and her burst into hysterical laughter. It’s the type of laughter you feel deep down into the pit of your stomach and God knows I need a good one of those.
As we calm down, I go first. “I’m sorry I haven’t been answering your calls or texts, it’s just, last night…” I pause, not being able to finish my sentence.
“Hush was with you, wasn’t he?”
I let out a breath. “Yes. But I fucked up and scared him off. To where? I have no idea.”
There’s a scoff from her. “Men. Why are they like this? So unbelievably emo it’s annoying. They’re all like, It’s not you, it’s me. Yada. Yada—”
“Tequila.”
“Sorry. PTSD. Anyway, we’re worried about him. Not that he needs to check in every second of the day, but he missed a club meeting and Throttle’s been calling him nonstop. It’s unlike him.”
I claimed to know him. Understand him. But I have no idea where he’d be. Where he could’ve ran off to. Will he be back? Was last night the last time I’ll ever see him? Is he hurt? Did he crash his motorcycle and is lying in a ditch somewhere?
Ugh. The intrusive thoughts are endless.
“What if he’s hurt, T?” There’s a shake to my voice, but I hold back tears.
“Hey. Hush is the toughest one out of all the guys. He’ll be fine.”
I hope she’s right.
“Well, if he shows up, I’ll let you know. I’ll just be hanging around my place for the time being considering I don’t exactly have a job anymore.”
“Yeah… I sort of heard about that. The guys sent a cleanup crew to your diner.”
“Wait, I thought ol’ ladies aren’t informed with what goes on with club business.”
“This was a different situation since it involved you. I can be very persuasive, leaving Throttle zero choice in the matter. Especially since Hush knew what a douchebag your boss was.”
I giggle softly. “I bet.” But… “Hang on.” I sit up, my brows scrunching in confusion. “How did Li—Hush know that my boss was a dickhead.”
She clears her throat. “Hey, I gotta go, but let me know if you hear from him, okay, byeee.” Tequila hangs up and I let out a huff.
I thought so. But she didn’t even let me thank her.
My body falls back onto the pillow, and I stare up at the ceiling while my phone vibrates again. The small hope it might be Liem fizzles out when Tequila’s name pops up.
Tequila: Hey, I do hope you’re okay. Whatever happened between you and Hush, he’ll come back. He’s a good man, and he’d be a total idiot to walk away from someone like you. Xoxo. Love you.
I smile as my chest warms in appreciation. “I hope you’re right because I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.” I set my phone down. “I also need to stop talking to myself.”
Wallowing in bed isn’t something I’m going to allow myself to do, so I’m going to get up, put on yoga clothes and head to the gym. Yes, I should be here in case he decides to show up, but that would mean I’m waiting for him and I’m not going to do that.
Not for any man.
Not even the best one.
I tug on tight leggings and a top, then throw on a hoodie.
There’re voices approaching as I head toward the stairs and I pause with a quick jolt.
Two men are heading in my direction.
My heart hammers and it’s the one man that causes me to freeze where I stand. Medium build, longer unkept hair. When he gains distance on me and we lock eyes, my blood turns to ice.
With my heart in my throat, nausea collides with my stomach, and I think I’m going to be sick.
He’s wearing the same sweatshirt he had on at Alexander’s club.
It was him.
It is him.
There aren’t enough words—aren’t enough emotions that can describe my exact feeling at this moment.
I can’t breathe. The air is being stripped from my lungs, and I can’t seem to regulate enough airflow.
Everything starts to tilt, spin into a moving nightmare.
The walls, the floors beneath my weighted feet, everything rotates on their sides, and I can’t fucking move.
It’s only when his confused expression turns to a recognizing one, that I let out a violent yell echoing off the walls.
“Little Rabbit?” He sneers, bile rising in my throat, threatening to take me out.
The name sends me into a deep spiral as he slithers his way toward me wearing the same evil grin I tried every single day and night to forget. For months to forget.
How did he find me?
How is this real?
Am I having another nightmare?
But no, this is real, this is all too familiar.
You will survive. You will live.
Move, Danika. Fucking move!
I find every ounce of strength in me to pry myself from the ground and bolt for my apartment. It’s not far, I haven’t made it that far. There’s no way to get to the exit with him blocking it, so I aggressively sprint the little distance I need.
“Oh, little rabbit. You can’t run from me. Not this time.” His laughs carries and I want to die.
Heavy footsteps trail behind me.
My heart is about to beat out of my chest, and my lungs burn from the pain. It’s not a matter of having lost stamina, but the crippling anxiety affecting me.
“Come on, come on,” I grunt out, trying so desperately to get inside before he makes it to me.
There’s small leap of joy when I unlock my door and a tiny moment of victory until it’s gone.
Until the tiny piece of hope fizzles out.
The one who haunts me every day grabs my hair and forces me back.
My door slightly parted. I was so close.
So fucking close.
I suck in a breath, before a violent cry leaves my throat. It’s the sound of pain. Not entirely physical but mental, emotional pain.
“Little rabbit,” the monster I vividly remember from my nightmares whispers his vile breath into my ear and shoves me inside my apartment, slamming the door closed and throwing me face first into it.
The smells of cigarettes and poison violently dance around me.
The shaking of my body is involuntary, and my labored breaths are violent and strong. The tears flow and flow like a river stream and the noises leaving my throat are ones I have never heard before even as he laid on top of me once upon a cruel time.
“This must be my lucky day. Imagine my thoughts when I saw your face. Fuck, how I’ve missed this face.” He pulls me again by my hair and my scalp screams.
Will anyone help? Will the man he was talking to minutes before, help me? No, if he’s anything like this asshole, then no. He’s probably long gone.
If I can only reach my phone and send an SOS to Liem.
“I missed you. Missed this hair.” He inhales deeply, pushing his face in my hair causing a sourness to rise in my throat.
“I missed this body.” He runs a slimy hand down my neck, over my breasts, then down my waist until he cups between my thighs, gripping with violence. I gag then let out a murderous scream.
“Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! You sick fuck!” I scream, practically baring teeth in fury.
“We’re all something, little rabbit.” He pulls up my shirt, revealing the scarred over initials.
The fingers I’ve felt many times before slide over the raised skin and I wince.
“I remember like it was yesterday. But he was never worthy of you,” he seethes talking about the man I was almost sold to.
“I think I’ll just keep you as mine. Forever. ”
Without another thought, I thrash with everything I have, but I won’t be able to get a shot at him like this. “I’ll never be yours!”
He laughs, the depth of it rumbles off the walls. “You’ve always been mine. Ever since my cock claimed you back in that warehouse, sweetheart.”
The pressure on my scalp releases and he backs away spinning me with a vast turn. My heart stalls as he pulls out a gun from his holster and smiles. The weapon being casually waved as he looks around in amusement, my breathing staggering as my stomach constricts in a knot.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding out. Guess that tiny rat is going to have to die. Too bad the drugs didn’t get him first.”
Rat?
Does he think… wait a minute. Was he coming here for my roommate’s boyfriend?
I’m dizzy but force the words from my mouth. “What did he do now?” Letting him believe I am in fact the rat’s girlfriend.
He shrugs, eyeing me up and down. “Had to make a house call this time. I’m tired of people stiffing me out of money. They take, take, take, but never give, give, give.”
“Drugs.” I sound unsteady as I continue to breathe with unevenness. No wonder they’re never home. My roommate and her boyfriend are dealing drugs. Doing drugs. What the fuck ever. Jesus Christ. I’ve been this close to him the whole time, and I didn’t even know.
He bites out a laugh. “Ah, it doesn’t much matter anyhow. I’ll be taking you with me as soon as my business is finished here.” He stomps around my apartment scanning every room with his gun still casually pointed in my direction. “Where is the little prick?”
I swallow.
“Not home?” He prowls back over in my direction. “I’m surprised anyone would be interested in tainted pussy.”
My chest heaves in rage and I spit. “Fuck you. You are nothing but a disgusting piece of—”
He closes the gap between us in one swift motion and presses the gun to my forehead. I let out a gasp. “Your mouth always did get you into trouble. I liked you better when you stopped talking.” He lets the gun trace down my cheek before dropping it and I can finally breathe.
I hold still, knowing he’ll punish me more if I fight back. But I can’t give up this time. I won’t.
My phone vibrates again in my sweatshirt pocket. I’ve counted the number of times it’s gone off, hoping it’s Liem.
If this pompous asshole heard it, he doesn’t let on, just keeps casually sauntering around my apartment like it’s his.
He scoffs, drawing the curtain open with his gun. “What a coincidence indeed.” He looks out toward the diner.
Was he involved with Grizzly, too?
A soft knock on the door has me jumping forward.
“Expecting company, little rabbit?”
I shake my head, hoping whoever’s on the other side is a form of help.
He moves toward me, and I tilt my head to side, trying to catch fresh air away from his foulness.
Another knock sounds.
“If I don’t answer the door, they’ll call the cops. It’s a pack I have with my friends.” A total lie of course.
He takes a minute contemplating. “Get rid of them,” he quietly demands of me. “And try anything funny, I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in their head.”
My heart drops as I swallow harshly.
“Say you understand.”
“I understand,” I whisper.
“Good.”
I watch him slink off into my bedroom, laying a finger to his lips to silently hush me.
I inhale and breathe out, gathering a couple of seconds to regain composure.
When I cautiously open the door, I nearly collapse in pure relief. It rushes through me, and I fight like hell not to throw myself into his arms, but then I remember he’ll hurt Liem.
I’d die before I let that happen.
My eyes meet his, my hand clenching onto the door for dear life.
Something Liem notices and with my breaths rapid, both actions don’t go unnoticed.
He scrunches his brows together slightly taking in my face, the dishevelment I know I’m displaying.
Once fallen tears stain my cheeks with a mix of mascara, I’m sure.
Liem darts his attention over my shoulder and inside my apartment. He scans the area before his darkened eyes fall upon me once more. He takes a step forward, but I stop him.
“Thanks for coming by, but right now isn’t a good time. I’ll call you later.”
With a brow raised, he leans in close, his front brushing against mine and his scent invades me like home. I close my eyes as his breath feathers my ear. “Where is he?” His voice hushed and there’d be no chance of anyone hearing expect me.
My eyes fly open, and I peer up at him leaning back slightly. “You have to go,” I blurt out in sternness. He’s not going to get hurt because of me.
He leans in again with another whisper, “Tell me goodbye.” He eyes me, the pulse in his neck pounding.
“Liem,” I grind out.
“Tell me goodbye now and close the door.”
Liem steps inside and I do as he says shutting the door with a loud thump. He hugs the wall, following it with his bat in hand. He stops just outside my bedroom door. And I don’t know what to do other than stand frozen in place waiting.
I hold my breath when the man who’s scarred me in many ways comes out. “That’s a good girl, little rabbit.” He stalks toward me without realizing Liem is behind the open door. “Let’s get going, shall we?”
I hit the wall as he progresses on me, but Liem creeps up behind him, nose flaring in a fiery rage.
And when the floor creaks, he spins. “What the—”
Liem’s bat smashes his right knee sending him to the floor in a brutal scream.
“Fuck! Fuck!” He’s rolling around in an agonizing pain, and I watch in horror but satisfaction.
When will it be enough?
When will I stop smiling at the people who deserve this?
Liem steps over his body crouching down beside him. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. Been thinking about what I’d do to you if I ever found you.”
“Piss off, asshole.”
Liem smirks. “I would love to take my time with you. But this isn’t my battle.”
My breathing is heavy as Liem stands handing me the gun. “You don’t have to do this. I can do this for you. But I want to give you that choice. You deserve to have a choice.”
I look down at the metal weapon that’s being handed to me. I’ve never killed anyone before and it’s terrifying, yes, but it also excites me. Should I really end his life after he took mine from me?
Reaching slowly, I place my hand on the gun and Liem sets his much larger one on top of mine.
He steps into my space, his large form wrapping around me in comfort.
I want to confide in him, sink into his strength.
But there’s a small part of me that lost his trust when he left, and I can’t forgive him so easily.
He winces, stepping back when I don’t return his way of intimacy.
I will do this. I’m going to kill the man who caused me so much suffering. I’m going to take my first life, and I’m not even scared.