Page 81 of Love in Overdrive

Chapter 28

“He’s here already?” Laney shook out her hand as she reached for the doorknob. She exhaled, forcing the doubt from her body. Cade’s here. This horrible night will end.

Wrong. She barely had the door open when the guy charged, catching her off guard.

She reached for her phone. It slipped through her fingers as she was propelled backward.

Run! She scrabbled up and away, but he grabbed her, pinned her arms to her sides, and kicked the door shut before she could get out of range.

Laney’s heart raced. Fight! She twisted and turned, struggling to free herself. “Who are you? What do you want?”

His evil laugh brushed the shell of her ear. A blizzard-sized chill zipped down her spine.

“What, you don’t remember me, darling?” He took a whiff of her hair and then said, “You took all my money like the whore you are and didn’t even fuck me for it.”

Laney’s whole body shook. She remembered that voice. It appeared in her nightmares. But what was he doing here, and why? “I don’t have your bag. The police do. If you want money, take my purse, or…”

“Shut up! Like you have that kind of money. You owe me, you little thief, and I plan on collecting.” He pushed her onto the couch.

Laney tried to get up, but he pinned her down.

Don’t give up. Her fight-or-flight mode not only kicked in, it revved into high gear. Her pulse strummed faster and faster in her throat. Her chances of getting out of this alive nosedived with each passing second. She fought harder, struggling to break free from his grip.

Ray held her hands with one of his, and ripped her dress down the front with the other.

Laney twisted her arm to put pressure on his thumbs. One hand slipped free. She clawed at his eyes.

“Ouch! You bitch.” He slapped her.

Her cheek burned, and her eye felt like it popped from its socket. Tears stung, but no way she would go down without a fight. She was as tall as Ray and stronger than she looked.

Use it. Leverage your size.

Intertwining her legs with his, she shifted her hips. Using all her might, she rolled, taking him with her. Momentum and gravity did the rest, and they crashed into the coffee table.

Go. Go. Go. She extracted herself from his grasp and scurried for the back door, tossing lamps and end tables in her wake—anything to slow him down, but it wasn’t enough. He gripped her by the hair and yanked her backward.

Next thing she knew, she was pinned to the counter beside the stove. Her wrists ached from his clasp. Ray’s face, marred with faded bruises, loomed inches from hers. The smell of cigarettes and whiskey gagged her.

“You can’t get away that easy, bitch.” Spittle sprayed as he spoke.

She flinched. “Please, let me go.” Her voice hitched as she pleaded with him.

He cackled.

Any hope left in her chest sunk like a stone. He’d never let her go free. He wedged his legs between hers and shoved one hand under her dress.

Laney squirmed, fighting to break his grip again, but he used his body to hold her in place as much as his hand. The rip of her underwear reverberated in her head. She stomped on his foot.

He growled and slapped her. “You want to play rough? Is that what you and your boyfriend do when he’s here? Yeah, I know Loverboy’s been hanging out, but you two had a little spat tonight.”

Laney froze. Shock flooded her body. He had been watching her? This just went from bad to worse. He had been stalking her. It made sense he’d sought her out for revenge, but it all was happening so fast, she hadn’t been able to process it. But his comment hit a nerve. No one was coming to save her. She had to fight with everything she had.

Laney struggled harder. She kicked him, bit him. His ear, his nose… any part of him that got close to her mouth.

He pulled back, and the pressure of his grip relaxed.

She wiggled her hand free, and her internal voice sang. Now was her chance.