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Before I saw it coming, a hand clamped around my wrist and started dragging me toward the fridge.
“Let go,” I grunted, trying to shake free of Matt’s hold, but his hands were strong, and my pigeon arms and skinny legs were no match for him.
Propelling me across the room, he shoved me into the fridge. My shoulder smacked against it, and I couldn’t help a small cry. Pain traveled down my arm, pins and needles spreading through my hand.
“Get me a drink!” he barked in my face, spittle hitting my cheek.
This is insane.
I looked to Theo for help, but he was staring down at his cards, shifting in his chair like he didn’t want to piss off his friend.
Just get him the drink, Ray.
It would have been the easiest thing to do—just open the door and grab a beer. There. Done.
But my stubborn pride just wouldn’t let me. So I stayed still against that fridge, refusing to open the door, taking one breath after another as I tried to pick my time to make a dash for the bathroom.
I got it wrong.
Before I could make a break for it through the kitchen archway, Matt’s hand clamped around my arm, and his thunder fist barreled into my stomach.
I bent over, gasping for air, shock and pain radiating through me in equal measure.
What the hell just happened?
I crumpled to my knees, panic clawing at my throat while I tried to find my next breath. Cradling my stomach, I looked to Theo for help, but he just sat there in his chair, giving me this bug-eyed stare.
Help me! I wanted to scream at him, but I couldn’t speak.
I have to get out of here. Move, Ray. Move!
I managed to inhale a breath and took off for the door, crawling across the floor in a bid to escape, but an iron hand snatched my ankle, and I was dragged back and made to stay.
Matt kept yelling at me, calling me every ugly insult his wasted brain could come up with while treating my body like a soccer ball. I curled in on myself, trying to protect what I could and wishing I could somehow fly out the window and get away from this nightmare.
I don’t know how it stopped, but the room seemed to go still, Matt’s voice disappearing, replaced with pants like he’d just done a workout.
I stayed on the floor, my heart thundering in my ears and pain radiating through my body. I kept my eyes shut until I heard the fridge wrench open and a bottle being snatched out of it.
Taking my chance, I scrambled to my feet and raced for the front door, but I didn’t even get the handle turned before two strong arms were around me again.
“No you don’t.”
“Let me go!” I screamed and struggled against Theo’s hold on me, but he lifted me off the ground, manhandling me down the hallway.
“Stop fighting,” he barked in my ear. “I’m protecting you.”
“What?” I screeched just as he let me go.
Opening our bedroom door, he pulled me inside.
“You didn’t protect me,” I whimpered, cradling my bruised side. “You just sat there and let it happen.”
“Yeah, well, I brought you down here, now didn’t I? We’ll lock the door, and you’ll be safe.”
I gave him an incredulous look. “I’m not staying in this house.”
“Yes, you are.” His voice turned to steel. “You’re not leaving me.” Scrubbing a hand down his face, he huffed and cursed. “Fuck, Rach. Why couldn’t you just get him a fuckin’ beer? Was it really that hard?”
