Page 7 of Sweet Oblivion

“You fucking whore. You think you’re too good for me?”

That voice.

That breath,

My mind slows, and my vision clears as the douche from earlier comes into focus. “You and golden boy have a real good laugh at my expense, huh?” His rancid sweet breath makes my stomach roil. His eyes are wild with unfocused fury.

Oh God. What’s he on?

Where’s his friend?

Are they in on this together?

“You want to play, little girl?” My fingers claw at the single arm holding me suspended off the ground against the sharp brick wall. My toes no longer touch the pavement below.

The sound of metal on metal as his belt unbuckles makes me want to die.

I’ve avoided this my whole life.

Snuck around and away from a million men like him in and out of my house, and now I’m about to be raped outside of a bar.

Dennings leans in and drags his tongue up my cheek, licking the tears that stream down my face. “Now it’s time you learn what happens when you play with the big boys.”

“No,” I gasp soundlessly, with my lungs on fire and my vision darkening by the second.

I’m going to die.

This man is going to kill me.

He slams my head against the wall again, and the pain—it’s too much.

My fingers claw at his hold as he drops his pants and tosses me to the ground like a rag doll, never letting go of my throat.

Can’t breathe.

How long can a body go without oxygen?

A rough hand shoves under my shirt as I stare at the pitch-black sky.

Not a star in sight.

I just started to make a life for myself.

One I liked.

One I could be proud of.

My sisters’ faces flash behind my eyes.

Ashton’s happy smile and Kyrie’s beautiful baby giggles.

I kick one more time, trying so hard to break free.

But it doesn’t work.

When Dennings hits back, something cracks inside.

A rib maybe.