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My vision begins to dim. He’s squeezing so tight, and it hurts. God, it hurts.
“Tim, please,” I croak, trying to claw at his hands, but he presses his body against mine, caging me in.
“I’m going to destroy you, Dove. Pluck every feather from your wings so no one ever wants you again.”
Bile rushes up my throat at his cruel, callous words. This isn’t the Tim I once knew.
This is a monster.
And I’m his prey.
“Tim, please.” I can barely get the words out as I desperately fight for breath.
My eyes flutter shut as my body gives up, the haunting fingers of darkness edging into my consciousness.
This is it... the thought surfaces. I’ve survived so much, but, in the end, it’ll be Tim, the first boy I ever loved, who destroys me.
Like a dream, I slowly sink into the abyss.
“Hadley, NO!”
I hear him, but it’s too late. I’m slipping under.
“Hadley, Dove, I’m here, I’ve got you.” Strong arms envelop me, pulling me down.
“Dove, stay with me, please... I need you, I need you so fucking much.”
“C-Cole?” My eyes flutter open, finding dark, stormy ones staring down at me.
“Hadley?” Relief washes over him. “You’re okay?”
“T-Tim, he’s—”
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. He’s not going to hurt you anymore, I promise.” Cole flicks his head to the body on the floor.
“Is he... dead?” Fear chokes me.
“Not yet, no.” Protectiveness glitters in Cole’s eyes. “When I saw him in here, with his hands around your throat... fuck, Hadley, I almost—”
“But you didn’t.” I press myself closer to him, needing to know this is real. Needing to know that Cole is here.
“Ugh, what happened?”
“Jeb,” I cry, and Cole lifts me off his lap, leaning me against the wall, before going to check on him.
“It’s going to hurt for a while,” he says, helping Jeb to sit.
“Cole?” Conner’s voice rings in my ears and then he’s there, rushing into the shop. “Hadley, baby, what the fuck?”
“It’s a long story.” I grimace.
“I’m beginning to think you attract trouble.”
“Not now, Con.” I rub my head, still feeling woozy.
“Dad’s on his way with Ace and Remi,” he says to Cole. “What are we going to do with him?” Conner motions to Tim who is out cold, a trickle of blood running off his brow.
“We’ll wait for Ja—Dad.”
