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Yeah right, Lucy. He’s not going to let you go.My mind chastises me. And I’m talking to myself again. I guess that’s what you do when you shut everyone out, you have nothing left but your own voice, your inner self.
I head for my bedroom. One glance and the memory of being with Tate hits me like a hurricane, taking my breath and making it hard to stand against the force. I go to my closet, then I pull out a suitcase and pack essentials and a few changes of clothes. I feel certain I’ll be needing it quickly because I know Taylor will make his appearance soon. I need to be ready to run.
The rest of last night was quiet. Eerily quiet.The calm before the storm. I’m about to head to lunch with Ivie when a prickle of premonition slides down my back. I have my suitcase in hand ready to head out the door, but something stops me short. My doors are still locked, and the alarm is still set. I rise up on my tiptoes to peer out my peephole and see Taylor, looking wired, standing on my doorstep. He hasn’t knocked or rang the doorbell. He’s just standing there, quietly, as if waiting for me to open the door and be caught unaware.
I drop back down, covering my mouth to quiet any sound, even my breathing, which might alert him of my presence. I squeeze my eyes shut and a tear tracks down my cheek. I knew he’d come for me, but I didn’t think it would be this soon.
Panic and the need to run right now consume me. He begins to knock on the door, and I flinch. I search the room for something, anything to defend myself. Before I can move to grab the nearest object that catches my eye, which happens to be a large, heavy duty wooden ladle I got for decoration instead of actual use, my phone rings and it’s on loud. I reach for it in my pocket to silence it, but the damage is done.
I grab the ladle and put it behind my back, squeezing tightly.
“I know you’re in there, Lucy. It’d be better for everyone if you let me in now,” he says quietly so he doesn’t alert the neighbors, but loud enough I hear the venom dripping off his tongue.
I find my voice and try to sound as calm as possible, “Taylor, I already told you to leave me alone. It’s over and I don’t want you here.”
A cruel laugh sounds through the door. “Lucy, I already told you, you’re mine. And Iwillremind you since you seem to have forgotten.” He starts to knock harder. I can tell he’s losing any patience he came here with. I’m still standing in the same spot, ladle in one hand and phone in the other.
My soul is shaking with fear. I squeeze my eyes shut once more as I curse myself for trying to do this alone. How could I be so stupid? My thoughts shift to Tate. I could try to call him or send him a text, but he’ll get here too late. I can’t call Ivie because she can’t put herself in danger, she’s pregnant. I’m still scared to call the police because I know what it will cause for me. They’ll want to help, but in the long run it’ll only make things worse, whether they intend for that to happen or not.
“Shit.”I say under my breath. I quickly bring up Tate’s number and hit call before I hear glass shatter in my bedroom. He broke through the window. I hear Tate’s deep voice answer and it hits me in my chest, causing an ache I try to push down with the fist that’s still clutching the ladle. My alarm is sounding so I head to disable it, hoping I can run out the door in time.
“Lucy? Are you there?” I don’t have time to speak before Taylor appears in the hallway, an evil smile etched on his unfortunately handsome face. “Oh Lucy.” He tsks his tongue at me before starting my way. “I told you to let me in. Now I’ll have to show you what happens to bad girls.”
He’s on me quickly, squeezing my wrist so hard I cry out and drop the ladle. He takes my phone and throws it against the wall, effectively shattering it. I have only seconds to wonder if Tate heard anything before Taylor digs his fingers into both my arms and slams me against my wall with a sickening thud.
He pins me with his body and releases one arm to put his hand on my throat before putting his forehead against mine, breath heavy with whiskey. His blue eyes seem to darken to almost black and he quietly says, “You aremine. I won’t let you go. If I can’t have you, no one can. Do you understand me?”
I don’t move. I don’t dare breathe. His fingers tighten over the gentle skin of my throat. He places a kiss on my forehead and then trails his tongue lightly down my cheek and to my lips. He squeezes a little tighter, not completely cutting off my air supply but enough I feel pressure behind my eyes and start to feel dizzy. “I said do you understand me?”
I nod quickly and tightly. He smiles deviously and his lips crash over mine once more and I open to him, pretending to kiss him back just enough so he releases my other arm and throat. I wait until he’s completely into the kiss and I can feel his erection against my leg to bring my knee up quickly and connect with his groin. He falls to the floor in pain as I make my way back to the front door to escape him and run to the nearest neighbor’s house for a phone since he smashed mine.
As I open the door, I meet Tate’s worried but furious stare with his shoulder turned ready to breach the door however he can. He quickly scans me for injuries before his eyes land on Taylor still writhing in agony. He obviously heard more of the phone call than I thought he would.
“Lucy, are you okay?” he rushes out. He gently grabs me, still searching for injury. When he doesn’t find anything obvious, he pulls me into his embrace.
I murmur into his chest, “Yes, I’m fine, but I need to get away from here. Please.”
He pulls back from me, pressing his lips together, and his gaze drops back onto Taylor who is now getting up and breathing fire. “Wait here,” Tate says as he strides into my house and faces off with Taylor.
“Get the hell out of her house and out of her life,” I say behind clenched teeth. Taylor doesn’t cower or back down. Instead, he puffs out his chest and narrows his eyes at me.
“Lucy belongs to me. I love her. It’syouwho better stay away from her, or someone’s going to get hurt,” he says with flaring nostrils.
I can’t help it, before I know what I’m doing, my fist connects with his jaw. I’ll be damned if he’s going to threaten her. He takes the punch like a man, surprisingly. Since real men don’t hit women, I figured he’d cry like the little coward he is. Instead, he wipes the blood from his lip and glares at me. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.
I step closer to him and look him right in the eye. “Make no mistake, Taylor, if you so much as breathe in her direction without her permission—which she won’t give you after what you’ve done—you’ll answer to me. I’ll be there for her to keep her safe from you, you piece of shit. Now get out of here and forget you ever knew her, or I’ll make you.”
His chest rises and falls with angered breaths. He walks around me and hits my shoulder as he passes with his. I turn and watch his every movement. He stops short of where Lucy is standing. “You better fix this, Lucy. You know what I said to you. And you know I mean it.”
He starts to reach for her, making me lurch forward but she steps out of his way. “Like I said Taylor, we’re done. We’ve been done. If you ever come near me again or try to contact me, I’ll call the police.” My girl puts on a brave face, her back straight, shoulders back, facing her own terrorist head on.My girl…did I refer to her in my head as my girl?I’m in more trouble than I thought.
Taylor leans in a little closer but keeps his hands to himself and says something I can’t quite hear, but I see the smallest hint of fear in her eyes before he finally leaves.
I go to her then. “Hey, come back inside so we can talk.” She doesn’t look at me, instead keeping her eyes trained on Taylor’s retreating truck. Suddenly, a new voice sounds off, breaking into my thoughts—thoughts riddled with how I could’ve lost her if I hadn’t been here, thoughts I still could if he won’t leave her alone. My biggest thought is going all alpha on her and making her come back to my house, so I know she’s safe.
“Lucy, is everything okay? I saw Taylor leave and heard commotion coming from here.” Serena Lawson, receptionist at Greendale Valley Police Department is closing in. Before she reaches us, Lucy turns to me and whispers, “Serena’s my landlord. Let me handle this, please.”
I feel anger fire up inside me at the thought she’s still going to try and cover for him.Protect himwhen all he’s done is hurt her.
