Page 37 of Shattered Love
Everything in me fights as I try to hold my breath. My head goes under the water and light spots cover my vision.
The garbage disposal turns on and I’m scared he’ll pull the plug, drain the water and somehow push my head inside.
Tension is relieved from my neck. I can breathe again. Water droplets fall from my face and to the ground as he reaches to turn off the garbage disposal.
“Yea, you remember that lesson, little shit.”
I hated Malcom then, and I hate him now. I pick him up and my entire body is shaking. I slam him against the back wall. Was that fear in his eyes?
Good.
It only makes me hungrier for his blood. My demons can smell his hesitation and they want revenge on the monster that created them. I was only a young boy for fuck sake. One who couldn’t fight back, who didn’t understand the why he was always getting punished.
Malcolm sneers, showing the few yellow teeth he has. The smell of stale beer is on his breath. “Did you rape her the way your daddy did your momma? Did you make her scream?”
I wrap my fingers around his neck. Malcolm Stone is the sickest bastard I know.
The truth is, he is my father. The man that raped my mother.
I watch as the woman that gave birth to me, picking up the empty bottle of vodka unscrewing the cap and trying to suck out any drops available.
Malcolm puts his hand on my shoulder. “That’s Avery in a few years, son. Weak, broken just how us Stone like our women.”
I growl. “That’s where you’re wrong. Avery is sweet. She is so fucking strong.”
My hands are about to go back to Malcolm’s neck, but a hand touches my shoulder. “He’s high, Stone. They both are, they’ve been kicked out of the trailer and they need money.” Carter’s lips are pulled tight.
Malcolm lips curl up as his eyes narrow. “Watch it Carter, I don’t want something to happen to you. You have a wife to think about.” I push him back to the wall, leaning in so close, I can see my refection in his eyes. “Don’t threaten him, you won’t like what happens.” Carter squeezes my shoulder. “He not worth it stone!”Before turning away, I watch him pick up Jillian.
Malcolm sneers. “You won’t always be here to save your sweet Avery.” Grinning, something shifts in his eyes. “Not long now.” He looks me directly in the eyes. “ I am going have fun breaking her.”
Something in me completely snaps, I pull back my arm landing it straight his nose. It cracks under my elbow. “I’ll break you, you bastard.”
Like a wild animal, I attack the darkness tinting my vision.
“Dominic!”It’s Avery.
Her bright sapphire eyes appear in front of me, making me jump back. I look down to see the bloody mess in front of me. My hands are clenched together, my breathing is rapid and my chest rises and falls.
My eyes automatically look toward her as if they were trained to, there’s a small frown on her face, her eyes wide. I turn my head away from here, she was never meant to see this man the one I kept hidden in the darkest depths of me. She was never meant to hear the vile truth of where I came from.
I pace like a caged animal as Carter sorts everything out, after the medic turns up there’s restlessness still alive in me.
Carter approaches, concern in his eyes—for who, I am not sure. “You okay man?”
I stare him down and walk closer. “Get me out of here.”
“Come on man.”
I follow Carter, my eyes staring straight ahead as I fight every instinct in me not to look at Avery, I don’t want her to see my demons up close. Right now, I am truly unworthy of her love.
“Dominic.” Her voice makes me flinch, when I feel her soft fingers on my arm, I don’t want her touching me. I don’t want the darkness to touch her.
I don’t move, I don’t look at her.
“Dominic.” It’s a beg. A plea.
I finally make eye contact with her. Even now, her brightness is pulling me out of my dark past. I close my eyes and lean my forehead against hers.
