Page 30 of Fractured

He paces a few steps away and runs his hands through his hair. “I saw it in your eyes. You would have been mine, only mine if I had just fucked the living daylights out of you. And I screwed myself out of having that. Now I know it in my soul, I’ll always have to share you. You will never be just mine, and it tears me up inside. When will I ever be free to be happy?”

The last part sounds like it has more to do with what he’s still hiding than what he just said, but before I can think too much about it, his lips are on mine. He grips my face in a tight hold like he’s trying to convince himself he won’t lose me.

My bottom lip gets caught in his bite, and he pushes me back until I’m pressed against the wall. Fire licks up my spine, bringing forth the lust I thought was forever doused when it came to Grayson. “Get a room, you love birds!” a voice shouts from down the hall.

Grayson pulls away from me and holds my gaze. “I promise I’ll figure out a way to free myself. I just need to know I have a chance of winning you back, even if it means having to share you.” What have you gotten yourself into, Grayson?

I don’t say anything, but he must find the answer he was looking for in my gaze. I wish he would have shared what it was because even I don’t know what it could have been. I’m still trying to figure out if he has a chance. He plants a quick peck against my lips. “The press is still out front waiting for us to leave. I’ll distract them, and you can sneak out the back.” He flashes his smile and runs his thumb over my cheekbone once, and then he strides toward the lobby.

What the hell just happened? There’s an odd twinge in my chest, and I don’t like it at all. It feels like he just walked off with something I wasn’t willing to give. And I’m left wondering just what it could have been.

I turn and walk in the opposite direction. If he’s willing to distract the press, I won’t pass up the opportunity to avoid them. I’ve had an overabundance of fake social interactions for one night. Pulling my phone from the clutch I threw inside the larger tote bag, I text Vander.

Remington: I’m heading out the back. Where the fuck did you go? Grab the car and meet me.

twelve

A wave of heat greets me as I push the first door I find open. It leads into a dark alleyway. The only illumination comes from the street lights and muted yellow bulbs over the doorways sporadically placed along the congested walkway. There’s a few dumpsters lined up against the hotel exterior. They’re sitting on wheels to be rolled out for pickup on trash day, otherwise a truck wouldn’t be able to fit down the narrow space. I pause and lean against the wall, not wanting to risk running into anyone before Vander pulls the town car around.

I lean my head back on the wall and close my eyes. The rough surface of the brick scratches my back through the silky top I’m wearing. Once again, I’m reminded of the irritation to my skin. I swear if I got some kind of rash from working out with Vander on the mats in the gym, I’m going to knee him in the balls.

My thoughts turn to this evening’s events. I’m even more worried about what Grayson could be hiding. Hinting at protecting me from some hidden threat makes it sound like he’s mixed up in something he shouldn’t be. I wish he would tell me what it is. I’m the last person who should be judging someone for doing something illegal. As much as I wish otherwise, only time will inspire him to divulge his secrets with me.

Those two cops will be looking into Scott any time now if they haven’t already started. I wonder if they will go to his place. I know they hinted at the mayor saying he checked there and didn’t find anything. But what if the trained eye of two professionals spot something out of place and realize what happened?

I wasn’t worried about leaving the scene before. Self-defense and shock were on my side. Pair that with my mother’s funeral, who could blame me for walking out? It's been days now. I don’t think those excuses will still be the get out of jail card that I initially thought.

Fuck!

What am I going to do?

Reaching into my purse, I feel around for the watch. The memory of it being stolen hits me like the pile of bricks sitting next to me. Rage consumes me and I rip the tote from my shoulder and throw it at the wall in front of me. My legs give out and I sink to the ground. As my ass hits the pavement, I rock back and forth, trying to calm myself down. It doesn’t work though, because now my back is on fire.

The watch being gone feels like I’ve lost a piece of my very essence. I can now relate to that despicable creature in the movie who was obsessed with a ring. That watch was my precious. It could have been worth a dollar, and it still would have been the most valuable item I owned. A priceless, irreplaceable treasure.

Before my rage spirals even further, a door farther down the alley swings open and a couple comes storming out. “—on’t care how much he paid you, Reggie. I’m not letting some lunatic put a plastic bag around my head as he fucks me! There are lines you don’t cross and that’s way beyond it. I’m not risking my life for some rich John.”

The woman doesn’t make it far before her pimp grabs her by the hair and whips her head into the wall. Her skull hits the brick with a wet smack, but it’s not enough for him. He palms the back of her head and grinds her face into the wall. I can’t see her clearly since he’s standing in front of her, but I can see enough to have a good idea of everything going on. His face is inches from hers, so close I bet she can feel the spit flying from his mouth as he yells at her. “You don’t get to have a brain when you work for me. You do what I say, when I say it. I don’t give a fuck if he wants to suffocate you until you die and he has to revive you. If a John says to suck it, your only response is to get on your knees and open your mouth.”

“Killing off your girls is bad for business,” she quips, struggling to free herself from his hold. Her eyes grow wide as she pulls from the wall, thinking she was able to break free on her own. A second later, his fist pounds into her cheek as he punches her. With the impact comes a crunching sound. He definitely broke something.

Her hands fly to her face as she cradles the new injury. She stumbles and her eyes are dazed, flicking back and forth, unable to focus. The pimp grabs her again, but this time, it’s gentle. He cuddles her head to his chest and runs a hand over her hair. “Aw. Shh. Shh. It’s okay. I’m sorry you made me do that, but you weren’t listening. You know how I get when you talk back. I’ve trained you to be a mindless whore. You have no place thinking for yourself and talking back. Shh. I know you’re sorry. Now suck my dick to show me just how sorry you are.”

His hands press down on her shoulders, encouraging her to sink to her knees. She sways on her feet and I’m surprised she doesn’t fall flat on her face. I catch my first glimpse of the damage as she sinks to the ground. Blood drips from her forehead from where he smashed it into the wall. Her eye and cheek are already swelling to impressive proportions. I’d be surprised if she can even see out of that eye.

Tears stream down her face, leaving dark lines from her mascara. With his thumb, he opens her jaw and her face is blocked from view as I assume he shoves his cock down her throat. The last glance I had of her eyes showed someone who was barely conscious. There’s no way she’s willingly letting him use her mouth, and even if she was knowingly allowing it, it wouldn’t be on her own volition.

Scott flashes in my mind, the way he was trying to force me against my will. I might not have been afraid like another woman would have been, but I’ve grown to have a hatred for anyone who wants to take control from another in the form of rape.

My hand brushes against the pile of bricks next to me. They are placed to the side of where the wall was patched, who knows how long ago, but it’s clear it wasn’t recent. I pick one up and briefly study it, weighing it in my palm. Maybe I can let my darkness out. It doesn’t have to be much, just a little bit, so she can get a taste of the violence being teased like a carrot right in front of us.

It’s clear to me that this man deserves my brand of justice. The way he gives no regard for the woman in front of him is just too similar to Scott, this pimp has earned himself the same fate. Yes. Just one more time won’t hurt.

I’m already tiptoeing behind Reggie, before I’ve fully made my decision. Seems my darkness has slipped from my hold more than I realized… Choked gurgles reach me and I’m convinced he hasn’t allowed her to get a proper breath since shoving his cock in.

When I’m a couple of feet away, I raise the brick, holding it ready to use as a weapon the moment I’m close enough. Excitement sends my heartbeat into an erratic rhythm. I’m once again the hunter, and my prey has no idea I’m about to pounce.

One foot away, and I swing the crude weapon, smashing it into his skull just like he threw her head into the wall. He stumbles to the side, but I’m already swinging my arm again. Adjusting my weight to make up for his change in position, I hit him in the temple.

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