“Fuck you!”
Trig suddenly released him, and the slap came so fast, Riju didn’t have time to try to fend it off. Wicked hot pain burned across his left cheek as he fell to the floor and nearly hit his chair. His spectacles, crooked from the force of his head getting whipped to one side, barely managed to hang on.
For a moment, he could barely breathe as his mind reeled more from shock than pain.
Trig’s blurry form froze. “I’m sorry.”
Riju drew in a shuddery breath as he sat up. His right forearm throbbed, and his chest grew tighter. Trig had never hit him before. He’d promised never to hurt Riju even before he started working for him.
“I’m sorry,” said Trig. “I-I didn’t mean to hit you.”
He’d sworn.
“I didn’t mean it. I just snapped-”
Snapped? Riju scrambled to get up as he adjusted his spectacles. Thank Elira they weren’t broken. People didn’t slap those they said they loved. He stumbled back as Trig came at him. He appeared regretful, but he wouldn’t have done it in the first place. Riju pushed his chair between them. Part of him wanted to run out of the store or anywhere as long as he got away.
“Stop! I said I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to slap you.”
“G-get away from me,” Riju forced out.
“It was an accident-I swear-”
“You didn’t hit me by accident!”
“I swear I did!”
How was it an accident? None of his words or actions had been accidental, and if he hit once, he’d do it again. Trig’s promises meant nothing. Perhaps not tomorrow, or even next week, but it would happen again. Riju darted around the table and into the hall.
“Wait. I’ll get a cold cloth. Talk to me. Damn it, Riju. Stop acting like this!”
How could he not be terrified of the one who’d just slugged him hard enough to knock him down? Riju sucked in a breath as his left wrist was snatched, and pain shot through it.
Trig dragged him closer, and he finally screamed. “Get off me!”
Trig spoke as his fingers dug in, and Riju didn’t hear as he kicked him in the shin.
It was enough to loosen Trig’s grip. “Ow!”
Riju ran down the hall, slammed his bedroom door shut, and locked it.
His cheek still stung, and his wrist throbbed so hard, he wasn’t sure if it was broken. The door handle rattled as he backed into his bed and sank to the floor. He had to keep quiet that time so Kit wouldn’t hear him and panic.
“Open the door.” It rattled again as Riju struggled to get his thoughts in order. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of that. Come on. Riju, please!”
It didn’t matter because he had wanted to hurt Riju, and he’d done it twice in the space of a couple of minutes. Riju shoved the back of his right hand against his mouth as he tried to stay quiet and breathe even though his eyes were pricking with tears.
He couldn’t stay there any longer, and neither could Kit. Riju couldn’t abandon him.
Trig swore and stomped down the hall. Riju wiped his face as he shook, and his wrist kept throbbing. He tentatively moved his hand which didn’t help. He was sure it wasn’t broken since he could move it.
He carefully lay on the floor and pressed his ear to the floor to listen. Kit would scream for him if anything happened.
He wouldn’t need to tomorrow. Riju was getting them both out.
Chapter Seventeen
Kit jumped when he heard Riju scream, and he looked up at the ceiling. He was sure they’d been arguing because he’d caught their voices raised in anger.
