Page 95 of King

“He’s not my boyfriend.” I try to pull away but that only makes Zane get on top of me. “Get the fuck off me!”

His hand comes flying across my face and I don’t even hear the smack. I just feel the hard sting. “Is that how you talk to the people you love? The people that love you?”

“You don’t love me!” I spit, my hand on my face.

“Don’t you say that!” He smacks me again before his hands are around my throat. They’re tight. Careless and I can’t breathe.

I try to call Shauna but I can’t, so I move my eyes, pleading for her help. She takes a cautious step forward. She sounds nervous, “Zane, you said you only wanted to talk to her—”

He snaps, “Get the fuck away from me if you want any part of what I get!”

Shauna puts her hands in the air before she grabs her purse and heads for the door. With a slam, she leaves me alone in her apartment with Zane.

“Now that we’re alone,” he says, loosening his grip. “I can take what’s mine.”

His eyes drop to my chest and I use that moment to try to push him away, kicking my foot against his stomach. I scream before I’m tossed to the ground. My back hits the unpolished wood, my head banging against something hard. The place goes fuzzy and the knock on my head doesn’t do anything for the hangover I have.

I try to crawl towards the door but his hands grip my ankles, pulling me back to the middle of the room. He flips me over like a ragdoll before he’s on top of me again, a menacing look on his square face. He unbuckles his belt, his brown brow sweaty.

Months ago I wanted the broken boy inside to love me, but I don’t know if that same person exists anymore. “Zane.” I try to reason with him again. My cheek, back and head stinging, the pressure of his body almost unbearable. “Just take the money you got. There’s over two-thousand dollars in that envelope in my backpack. But that’s all I have.”

“The deal was five thousand.” He’s breathing heavily like his airway is blocked. “You fucked up my business and you broke my heart.”

“You fucked my best friend!” I yell. “And by the looks of it, you still are. I'll never forgive you for how you treat me. Not then. Not that night. Not now."

He takes a minute to look at me, pinned under him with what I'm sure are marks on my face. Thanks to him. His eyes narrow before his fingers trace a mark on my shoulder. A mark that Damien left.

I hear the zip of his jeans before his face comes closer. “Better make this worth it. You remember us together Little Mama? Remember how good it was?” I try to push him again but his fist is in my hair. He bangs my head against the floor, “Don’t worry, I’ll remind you.”

“Zane, stop,” I’m pleading but I’m not getting through, a wisp of air passing between my legs.

“You’re not who I thought you were Jo,” he says. “And I’m going to treat you like who you’ve proven to be. I asked you for the money, and you said you don’t have it. That’s fine. But like I said Jo, gas or ass.”

SLAM!

“Zane Khan." I’m hearing his voice but I don’t know if he’s real. "If you know what's good for you, you'll get the fuck off her."

Zane looks towards the door, his arm pressed against my chest. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Zane looks at me. “Really? Did you bring this rich prick to The Grove? You really are stupid.”

When Zane gets off me I’m finally able to look towards the door. Damien’s standing there with the mark of the beast plastered on his face. He's in all black except for his white v-neck, leather jacket on his shoulders. He’s raging raw anger and it’s pointed at Zane. Though Zane’s looking at him the same way.

I push myself off the floor, too hurt and sore to move all the hair out of my face. Damien notices and starts coming towards me but Zane stops him. “And where do you think you’re going?”

Damien’s fists clench and he’s approaching Zane without a care in the world. It’s like a showdown. High noon. And I don’t know who’s going to be the one to walk away.

Sure Damien can fight with his tactics and manipulation back in Eden. But he’s in The Grove now.

“How about you settle this like a man, Khan. I’ll give you whatever it is Jo owes you and I'll triple it.” Damien takes another step closer. “I’ll even give the keys to a brand new loft. Furnished. Need a car? I got the tab. All you have to do is walk away."

Zane laughs, keeping his eyes on Damien. “The bitch had her chance to buy herself out of this one. Besides, it’s not your debt to pay, King. Now go close down a daycare or something.”

“Maybe I’ll make it my debt.” Damien takes one step further and they’re almost chest to chest.

They're locked on each other for what feels like minutes before Zane reaches for his waist.

He pulls out his gun. Metal. Black. He's pointing it at Damien’s chest, cocking it. The room blurs.

“I’ve had enough of your silly little rich boy bullshit!” he yells. “Maybe I need to send a message to all the other guys in the Fucked Up Gardens!”

---