AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tears well in my eyes. "I don't have it," I whisper, hating that I'm being put in this spot.
The smirk on his face is scary. I take a step backward but there's no point. Jed reaches for me, his hand curling into my hair, tugging it hard.
I cry out, my hands reaching up and clawing against his hand, trying to get him off me. It's no use. God, he's too strong.
"You're fucking sexy, Ailbhe, I'll give you that, but you're a damn stuck up bitch. You should have known that you'd never be free of me. I'll keep letting your da add more money to the debt. I'll make sure you're destitute and begging for more."
"Please," I cry. "Let go of me."
"Not going to happen," he snarls, pulling me toward him. "You think you're better than me, bitch?"
I know I am. I'm not an arsehole who hurts people. I don't tell him that. I have some self preservation.
"This is your last warning, Ailbhe. Next time you miss a payment, I'm going to fuck you."
I'm unable to keep the bile down any longer. My stomach protests and I retch. I try to swallow it down but can't. I vomit all over Jed's shoes.
"Cunt," he snarls as he releases my hair and steps backwards. He glares down at his shoes, and I place a hand against my stomach as it once again feels as though I'm going to throw up.
I'm so focused on not trying to be sick that I'm no longer paying attention to the psychopath in the room. A vicious backhand strikes against my cheek. The force of it rocks my entire body, and I'm unable to stay on my feet. I'm thrown to the floor with the sheer power behind the blow, landing heavily as I do. A pained cry escapes my lips.
"Fucking bitch," Jed sneers as he reaches for me. His hands once again tangle in my hair. He drags me up from the ground by my hair, and the tears fall thick and fast. I can't control them. I'm in too much pain. "You have two days, Ailbhe, two fucking days and I want my money. Double the normal repayments. You're in debt to me. You don't fuck me around."
He keeps one hand tight in my hair. The other, he balls into a fist and pulls it back, before following through. This time, I'm aware of what's happening. I can see it. I know he's going to punch me. I try to dodge it, but he's got such a tight grip on my hair that it's impossible to move.
The blow is hard and heavy. It's painful as it connects with my temple. Spots fill my vision as it blurs, the darkness seeping in. My body feels weightless as Jed releases my hair. I have no energy or power to stop myself from falling back to the ground.
I pass out before I even touch the floor. My last conscious thought is of my baby and that I hope Jed leaves. I couldn't bear to wake up with him having touched me. I don't think I'd survive that.
* * *
"Ailbhe." I hear the sound of Ruairi's voice. "Ailbhe, honey, you have to open your eyes. Let me know you're okay. Please, Al, please open them and look at me."
I release a pained cry as I try to open them. God, my head hurts so fucking badly. "Ruairi," I groan.
"Oh God, fuck," he says, his words sounding tortured.
I feel him pull me into his arms. "Talk to me, Al," he breathes. "What's going on? Where are you hurt?"
"Head," I whisper. "It's so sore."
"Anywhere else?" he asks. "The ambulance is on its way. I'm so sorry, I should have been here."
"Jed," I tell him as I try to open my eyes, but wince as the light hits them. I close them again. "He was here."
"I know," he tells me as he runs his hand through my hair. "I know. I saw him and his men driving down the street. I knew they'd been here."
I swallow, trying to push back the groan of pain. "I didn't open the door."
He releases a strangled laugh. "I know," he says. "I know. I'm so sorry."
"You didn't pay yesterday," I whisper. "What happened?"
He's quiet, and I hate that he's not talking. I hate that I'm in so much pain that it hurts to speak, let alone move.
The sound of sirens lets me know the ambulance is here. "I'll make this right," he promises me.
"Freddie," I whisper. "Talk with Freddie."
