Sure, I’d hold my breath on that.
The elevator opens, and he stops me. “Let’s get a cup of coffee at the cafe across the road. My treat. Let me apologize properly.”
I stare at him. “I know about your wager with Ethan. I’m not letting you be godfather to my child, Jake.”
He blanches. “It’s not about that. I have been sitting on this apology for days. It’s time we had this conversation.”
I hesitate.
On one hand, I’d rather let him stew. On the other, I know Ethan cares about him. He doesn’t show it, but I can see it. I don’t want to ruin my relationship with his family.
“Fine.” I press the button for the ground floor. “I can’t have coffee, but I’ll have an iced tea, and you’re paying for it.”
He beams at me. “Of course.”
I stare at him. For a moment, he reminds me of a golden retriever.
The elevator dings again, and we step out onto the ground floor. He checks his phone and sighs. “Give me two minutes. I left my wallet upstairs. Wait for me?”
“Alright,” I say, glancing toward the coffee shop across the street.
Jake heads back into the elevator, and I step outside, lingering on the sidewalk, watching the traffic light flick togreen on the corner. I begin walking when my phone buzzes in my hand with a calendar reminder, and I glance down briefly.
I’m halfway across when I see him.
Lucas.
My feet freeze mid-step. My blood goes cold. It’s like the ground disappears from under me.
He looks just like he did that night five years ago. Sharp eyes. A monster in a tailored suit. I stumble backward, heart slamming against my ribs. I whirl to head back toward the building, but I’m too late.
His hand latches onto my arm.
“Not so fast,” he says through clenched teeth, dragging me into the alley beside the building. “We need to talk.”
I shove at him, but he’s stronger. The shadows swallow us, brick and concrete towering on either side. The heat back here is thicker, heavier. Like the air knows what’s coming.
“Let go of me!” I struggle, yanking at his grip, but he slams me into the brick wall. Pain blooms across my back.
“You’re spreading your legs for Ethan again?” Lucas snarls, pinning me with his stare. “Slutting around with the man who destroyed our family? You just can’t help yourself, can you? You stupid little slut!”
“I said let me go.”
“If you scream, I swear?—”
“Let me go, or I’ll call the police,” I hiss, digging into my pocket with trembling fingers.
His hand snaps out, gripping my throat. “You think I care? You think I won’t finish what I started that night?”
The world narrows to the pressure on my windpipe, the flare of panic clawing up my spine. I’m gasping for breath, vision swimming.
For a moment, fear seizes me, sending me back to that night when he walked in and punched me, when he sat on top of me, beating me. I wasn’t even fighting back anymore. My blood waspooling around me, and he kept at it. He kicked me, spat on me, his vile words still haunting me.
My heart is pounding inside my chest. I can’t breathe.
And then?—
Rage boils up, pushing through the fear. I’m not that girl anymore.
