Page 10 of Chains

I knew he was waiting for me. There was no way he wouldn’t be here. It was times like these that I wish I had some mace in my purse, but he had gotten rid of that already. Taking a deep, calming breath, I walked farther into the room when the sudden click of the pretty Tiffany table lamp, turning on, made me jump in complete fright. Even though I was expecting it.

Sitting in the tall wingback chair, nursing a glass of amber liquid, was my husband. A man at one time I thought I was in love with. His face was an unreadable mask, but my terror jumped tenfold when he was like this because I knew what was lurking behind that mask.

“Did you enjoy your evening with that little tramp from the club?” He drawls, and I freeze in my tracks.

He had always made jabs about the DCMC, but mostly about Chains. He would always be Caleb’s target.

I clear my throat and swallow the lump that has formed there, without saying a word. Because what would be the point? The outcome will be the same.

“Answer me, dammit.” He grounds out, slowly lifting himself from the chair, and stalking towards me. I recoil in fright, and hate myself just a little more when I let him see just how much he scares me. The slow smile I used to think made him even more handsome than he was, now just makes him look all the more evil.

I want to run, but I know he’d catch me. So, I just stand there, trying to get my breathing under control.

“Yes.” I whisper, staring at the floor. He grabs the side of my face, his fingers digging painfully into my skin as he forces my head up to look at him. His eyebrow arches.

“Yes? You enjoyed being dressed like a slut, and having all the men staring at you? Just like your tramp friend?”

I jerked my head from his hold, my green eyes full of defiance. If I’m going down, I may as well go down with a bang. I was sick of being a prisoner in my home to a man who was supposed to love and care for me.

Not this. Not whatever it is Caleb felt for me.

“I did.” I reiterated. I know I was poking the bear, but I was too far gone to stop, as anger burned through my veins at the way he had treated me over the years. At the way, I had let him treat me.

I was expecting it. Even ready for it. But when he backhanded the side of my face, it still came as a shock, because I was expecting a hit to the body. Heaven forbid anyone dared ask questions, so he never left a mark on my face.

Pain exploded in my cheek, and I collapsed to the floor with the force of the hit. My eyes burning with unshed tears. I slowly get to my feet again, willing them to hold me up, as Caleb grabs my arm in a painful hold.

“Who else was there?” he demands, tightening his grip on my arms so much that I hiss in pain. “Was that Neanderthal Chains there as well? I know you’re hot and panting for the asshole. Did you fuck him?” He pushes me back, and I would’ve fallen on my ass again, had I not held on to the back of the wingback chair he’d been sitting in. I watch him pace as he runs a hand through his blond hair.

“No, he wasn’t there.” I retort, not knowing where this sudden bravery or maybe recklessness for daring to answer back is coming from. “But I saw your whore.”

He freezes for a second, surprise on his face, before a slow, evil smile replaces it.

“You’re half the woman she is.” He drawls. I wasn’t even going to unpack that statement from him as I watch his eyes get this faraway look in them, and I wonder if he was on something when he says. “I knew you were going to be a thorn in my side; he even told me to get rid of you. But no, I wanted to keep you for a little longer. Just to shove you in his face a little more. Now it looks like I have no choice.”

I frown. What the hell is he talking about? I need to leave before things escalate.

“What are you talking about?” I demand, yanking my arm out of his grasp. Finally; he’s finally cracked it. And I need to get far, far away from him. I slowly back away from him toward the door. If I could just get to my car, I’ll be safe.

“I’m leaving.” I tell him, my demeanour braver than what I was feeling inside.

I knew he was a dangerous man. But he hid it well with his work colleagues at the police station where he works. His crazy coming out in private against me, and the people he arrests daily. Being promoted to detective was just another thing he’d like to rub in Chains’ face.

Even though it was me that forced him to leave the club when we moved to Dallas, for selfish reasons on my part. So that I wouldn’t be anywhere near Bodie. He blamed the Devil’s Carnage for keeping him as a prospect and promoting Chains to member status.

But I never once believed, even though he’d beat me to within an inch of my life, that he would be capable of murdering innocent women.

Caleb chuckles, but it’s not one of mirth.

“Like hell you are,” he growls, before swinging me around so hard, when he lets me go, the momentum has me crashing into the wall with my right hip, my chest, then my head.

The pain hits all points in my body as I slump to the floor with a groan.

“You’re my wife, not fucking his. You’re my property to do with what I choose. Your so called ‘friendship’ with that bitch ends now. I won’t have my woman consorting with the enemy.” He snarls, advancing on me. And I swallow hard, unable to move a muscle. Looking up at him, my vision has me seeing double.

When his foot kicks out and connects with my stomach, I curl into the foetal position, protecting my head and my stomach from the blows. At one point, someone else enters the house. Although my eyes were swollen shut, I'm certain I heard a woman's voice.

Sweet relief overcomes me when the attack finally stops, and I can’t help the tears that run down my bloodied and bruised face. I thought this was the end, that he would just leave me there. But I was mistaken, when there was a sudden loud bang, and a pain I had never felt before spread throughout my body as I fell into instant oblivion.

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