I opened my arms. “What are you waiting for?”
He rushed at me like a linebacker in a football game. I darted out of the way. He stumbled then caught himself, growling.
His nostrils flared. “I will end you.” He took out his switchblade and charged me.
I would have liked to say that my eyes didn’t bug out of my head. But I couldn’t stop the memory of the sound of the switchblade engaging or the image of him on top of me.
His face was beet red. Mine had to be too. But all I could think about was protecting myself. I would never let him hurt me again.
I sidestepped him. He was onto me, though. He swung around quickly, and the blade scored my face. Hot rage gripped my chest. I reared back my arm and went for my target. My fist connected with his throat.
All he did was laugh.
Well, Lou, that didn’t work, not on Cory. That move had worked on one guy I’d tussled with in a gang fight once.
All six girls were making noises of “ah,” “oh no,” and “watch out.”
“You can’t hurt me,” Cory cooed.
The warmth of blood trickled down my neck then my chest.
Cory stomped closer to me. This time I didn’t move.
All I could think about was getting the blade.
He bowed his head, admiring his artwork that he’d carved into me so long ago. My chest heaved rapidly, trying to quell the panic. Before I could do anything, he traced the blade over my scar then ripped off my shirt.
I gulped in air and blew it out. “You like when a girl submits to you?”
“I like when she fights,” he whispered, his gaze lingering on my big breasts. “You sure turned out to be a fine-looking woman.” He fingered my blond locks that I’d left unbraided for Dillon.
Nausea tumbled deep in the pit of my stomach. I hated Cory, and I hated what I was about to do. But I had to inflict pain on him. I had to feel some satisfaction after what he’d done to me. I lifted up on my toes and kissed Cory on the mouth.
He stiffened. Then as though a light bulb brightened in his head, he positioned the knife against the side of my neck. “Not going to work.”
We’ll see about that.I continued to use my female charms, tuning out the girls who were telling me not to go there. They knew something I didn’t. But I was invested now. So I let my hands roam along his chest as I locked eyes with him, hoping mine weren’t showing fear and hoping he was buying my moves, which I was almost certain he wasn’t. But a man, especially one that raped women, could be tempted.
He allowed me to feel his chest and abs, which were surprisingly firm. When my hands reached the buckle of his belt, he pressed the tip of the blade into my skin.
I didn’t flinch. I feigned a sultry grin. “I like it rough.” Okay, I just puked in my mouth. That was true. I did like rough sex, but with someone that turned me on.
As if my statement was the assurance he needed, his body slackened. With one hand on his belt, I dragged the other one down to his crotch and found that he was fully hard.
I squeezed his erection and kissed him on the mouth again. He hadn’t lowered the blade. In fact, I could feel the pressure of the tip. But any pain was nonexistent.
I stuck my tongue through his lips, trying not to die from the stench of onions. He opened for me before his free hand went around to my lower back. He yanked me to him, pressing his erection into me.
As soon as his tongue hit mine, I bit down so hard, the knife dropped from his hand.
Cory wailed, his voice bouncing off the rafters.
The girls cheered. “Get the knife.”
I dove for the weapon that had fallen far from my feet.
Cory brought his hand to his mouth before spitting out blood. “You bitch.” He sounded as though he had a lisp.
“Get the keys,” one girl shouted.
I retrieved the blade and stalked closer to him.
I was about to drive the knife into his groin when men stormed back into the building.
Miguel jogged up with a gun pointed at me. “Put the knife down, Maggie.”
“Not happening. You’ll have to shoot me,” I said, not taking my eyes off Cory, who was still spitting out blood.
Then Miguel fired, the sound exploding along with a burning, shooting pain somewhere on my body. The knife fell from my hands, and my body collapsed with it.
