His words bore into the gaping hole in my heart, the painful memory seeping into the front of my mind. I’ve pushed them away for so long in order to survive that the very thought of reliving them will wreck me again. His hand tightens around my wrist, startling me from the haunting memories. I can’t take the heartache any longer. Maybe I’d be better off if I don’t fight him. Let him take my life and end the misery once and for all.
His hand strikes the side of my face, knocking me off balance. I fall to the ground. The palms of my hands and my knees burn from the impact. “You deserve every ounce of pain I give you, you stupid bitch.”
My fingers dig into the floorboard as I crawl backwards, trying to get out of his reach, but I have nowhere to go. Panic washes over me as his heavy boots thud against the floor and he closes in on me again. He lifts his foot and slams into my ribs, forcing the air from my lungs and my body to splay onto the ground. He brings another swift kick down on me and bile climbs up my throat.
My body aches from the beating. I can’t breathe. I can’t move as he crouches next to me, gripping my hair in his fist. He tugs so hard my head snaps backwards. “Stop, please, stop.” My voice comes out as nothing more than a whisper.
I try to think of something to say, anything that would make him let me go, but I know there’s no point. He’s going to kill me and this time, I can’t stop him.
He shoves my face forward, pinning me to the ground. “When I’m done with you, I’m going to finish Chainz and his whole fucking club for getting in my way.”
Chainz.
Hearing his name ignites something inside of me, sparking my will to live. I’ll never forget the horrible night I lost Paige. I’d never want to forget her, even if I could, which is why I treasure the bracelet so much. I was prepared to run forever, to hide from any resemblance of a life while I was hiding from Adam. I wasn’t prepared for Chainz or the desires he sparks in me. Through this whole miserable experience, he’s the only man who’s been able to bring a little light into my dark world. When I’m with him, I can breathe again. I see things clearer. No matter how much Adam blames me, I know I’m not responsible for Paige’s death. She’ll always be a part of me, but I’m still alive and I want to live. I want a life where I don’t have to hide from the past. I can embrace the heartache and still love again. I can be worthy of love. His love.
“Chainz,” I whimper. “He’ll come for me.”
Adam rears my head back again and presses his lips to my ears. His fiery breath scorching my skin, “I’m counting on it.”
He loosens his grip and stands over me. “Don’t go anywhere.”
My head is too heavy to lift off the ground, but I watch as his boots disappear into the darkness and a door thuds shut. The loudness makes my aching body jolt. My head is spinning and there’s a ringing in my ears as waves of nausea roll through my stomach. I try to push myself up, but the intense pain in my ribs stops me. I can’t do anything but lie there. Every inch of my body hurts.
My eyes close, but I force them open. I need to stay conscious and calculate his next move if I’m going to have a fighting chance at survival. I strain to hear the voices outside the door. Adam’s talking to someone, but between the whooshing in my ears and the vibrating of the ground, I can’t understand what he’s saying. The vibrations under me cause my body to tremble as they grow stronger, and the familiar rumble of engines gets louder and louder.
When I told Adam Chainz would come for me, the words just poured out of my lips. I could only hope they were true. Now, with the motorcycles roaring in the distance, I cling to the thought like a lifeline. I fight to keep myself from falling unconscious by thinking of all the things I’ll say to Chainz, if given the chance.
I love you.
I need you.
Forgive me for not trusting you.
When the rumbling silences and the floorboards still under me, the tears fall. The long stretch of silence is louder than a dozen engines, but I cling to the hope he’ll reach me in time.
Chapter 24
