Page 44 of It Was Always You

I shook my head, trying to remaincalm.

"Cause it certainly looks like you were planning on leaving in a hurry. We need to have a little talk." He took a couple of steps, closing the distance between us. "Seems to me, not too long ago, you accused me of cheating on you. Now I hear you are fucking that cop. What’s that all about,Tatum?"

I studied him, noticing the vein protruding in his neck. "No." I swallowed hard. "I'm not sleeping with anyone," I lied, dropping my bags to thefloor.

"I'm going to give you another chance. You know how I feel about liars. So, are you sure about that?" He squinted, taking mein.

I was paralyzed with fear, unable to answerhim.

"Well?" He took a quick step forward and wrapped his fist around my throat, cracking my head into the wall as he threw me against it. Pain shot through the back of my head, and it took me a couple of seconds to regain mybearings.

"Answer me, and don't fucking lie!" he yelled, clenching his teeth together. "After I paid you a visit last time, he had me put in jail for trying to fuck my own girl. Do you know what that will do to my career?" He gripped my throat tighter, cutting off moreair.

I grabbed at his hands and tried to pry them away from mythroat.

"What’s the problem? Can’t breathe?" Helaughed.

Tears were burning my eyes. He released his hold enough for me to take in a breath. I was still clawing at his hands to let me go when he grabbed my arms with his free hand and held themtogether.

"You think I don't know? That’s cute." He leaned in closer and whispered in my ear, "Fucking him on your back deck, Tatum, really? Nothing should surprise me with a whore like you. Your behavior is disgusting. What do you have to say foryourself?"

I started to squirm and fight back tears while trying to breathe, the tightness in my chest unbelievable. Finally, he let go of my throat and turned away fromme.

"I didn't, I swear to you. He's just a friend," I cried as I tried my best to catch my breath, rubbing at mythroat.

He laughed. "Listen to you. You sound pathetic. I didn't, I swear. He's just a friend," he mimicked. "What the fuck are you doing with that guy,Tatum?"

"I swear to you, nothing is going on." I never saw it coming. He turned and smashed his fist into my face, knocking me to thefloor.

"You fucked him!" he screamed over me, clenching hisfists.

Rage spilled through him as he bent down and pulled me up by the arms. A fist to the other side of my face sent pain searing through my head as he dropped me back to the ground. I let out a sob, my head throbbing. I could tasteblood.

"Get up!" hescreamed.

I lay there, unable to move, my headringing.

"I told you to get. The. Fuck.Up!"

"I'm sorry," Isobbed.

He grabbed me by both arms and held me up against the wall. "You’re what? You’re sorry?" A laugh emanated from his chest. "Sorry doesn't even begin to cut it, you bitch." Gripping me by the throat again, I struggled to breath. "I told you, you were mine, but you didn't want to bother with me. Instead, you ran away, and right to that pussy. I'm not even sure I want your filthy ass now, but I'll be dammed if I leave you forhim."

He let go of me, holding me against the wall with his body. With his hand gripping my chin, he lifted my head. "Look atme."

I struggled to open my eyes. My cheeks were swelling, and the light in the room was making it hard to openthem.

"Open. Your. Fucking. Eyes," hedemanded.

The last thing I felt was his hand connect with my face, before I fell to thefloor.

Elliott and I were aboutan hour away yet. We had pulled over to get gas and switch seats. I had driven most of the way, but I was exhausted after working all night with only a couple hours sleep. We had just gotten back onto the highway when Elliott's phonerang.

"Bancroft," Elliottanswered.

"Elliott, it’s me. Tatum was supposed to be here over an hour ago. She hasn't shown up yet. She called me after she got Parker’s message. She was prettypanicked."

"Did you try calling her?" Elliottasked.

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