My body goes into survival mode. I flash back to when I was fourteen, watching a man advance on my mother.
“No,” I roar against his palm, my voice sounds muffled.
Still, no one hears or comes to the door.
“They’re terrible men,” I say.
My past is still rearing its ugly head.
Eyes wide in confusion. He lets go of my nipple. “What?”
“No one hurts Serenity.” I drive the heel of my palm upward hard and fast. His nose crunches under the impact. Blood spills instantly, and he stumbles back with a howl.
“Ah!” he yells, stumbling backward onto the floor.
I stand. “Do you think it’s okay to hurt women?”
His face twists in shock, like he genuinely can’t believe what just happened.
I turn my head sharply. “No means no.”
“Serenity, chill,” he says, clutching his bleeding nose.
“I tried to be sweet, Serenity. But men like you want to hurt sweet girls.”
“I’m done here.” He straightens to his full height.
I dig into my purse. “Not so fast.”
The switchblade shoots from my hand, slamming hard into his back.
“Fuck,” he growls.
“Sit the fuck down, pretty boy rapist,” I hiss.
He lunges at me, curling a hand around my throat and hoisting me off the ground. My buzz shatters completely.
Rage moves in where fear used to be.
“You’ve crossed the line,” I rasp, fingers tangling in his dreads.
“You know what they say—fat girls have juicy pussy. All I wanted was a little taste.”
“I will… fucking… kill… you,” I spit out.
My leg swings sharply, my foot smashing into his balls.
“You fucking bitch,” he howls, loosening his grip.
I keep kicking until he finally lets go. I collapse to the floor, gasping for air.
“All the other girls want it,” he sneers.
Scrambling on the floor, I reach into my purse again. He yanks my leg toward him.
“You’ve got so much fight in you. I’m going to love taking that pussy.”
I twist the switchblade into his hand and wrench it free.
