Page 2 of The Silencer

“I’m…no. I’m in some trouble. Did something stupid…”

I let out a choked sob and then a shaky breath. Angel fumbles with the phone, and I can hear the panic laced in his words. “Don’t worry. We’ll… Dad!” His voice is loud and urgent, and for a moment, I’m so fucking thankful I have him as a friend. It was just a chance meeting a year ago, in a coffee shop near school, and yet here I am, able to turn to him in a time of need.

“Dad, Tatum is in trouble.”

I hear a pause and then a muffled deep voice, “Tell him I’m on my way.”

Relief pulses through me as I press my back against the wall, willing him to show up as quickly as possible. The jeers and shouts on the other side of the door are making me want to throw up. They hate me. They hate who I am.

God, don’t let them get in.

Don’t let them break down the door. I don’t know how much more my body can take. I’m not made of sterner stuff. I can’t defend myself. Don’t even know where to start.

Perhaps, if I make it out of this alive, I can take classes so I can protect myself. Self-defense classes—something to make me stronger and braver in these kinds of situations.

I hear the pounding on the door intensify, and I realize they must be kicking it down. Anthony won’t make it here in time.

“Hang in there, Tatum,” Angel says. “My dad will be there soon. He’s calling you right now. Answer.”

How does he even know where I am?

And even if he does for some weird reason, he’s too far away. I don’t even know the address of where I am. Some biker bar in the hills.

Why the hell didn’t I tell the dude to meet me at a small restaurant downtown? Somewhere safe. Fucker didn’t even show. He probably took one look at this place and drove away.

I let out a choked sob as my phone beeps, and I see a number I don’t recognize flash across the screen. It must be him. The man I tease and taunt on purpose, the man who I totally annoy, and yet still, he’s coming for me.

“Tatum,” he says lowly when I answer. His voice is almost a growl. Under any other circumstances, his stern, gruff voice would give me a boner. I’d honestly jack off while listening to him lecture me, but right now, I’m too frightened. I can’t even think about getting hard.

“Hi,” I whisper and then let out a small sob. “I’m in trouble.”

“I know. Stay calm. Protect your head if they get to you. We’ll be there soon.”

Not soon enough. But I just nod, realizing he can’t hear me but staying silent anyways.

“I’m scared,” I say softly, and Anthony blows out a breath.

“I know you are, but Tatum, listen to me. Anyone who touches you will pay. Every one of them.”

Shivers run up my body, breaking across my skin. “Please don’t let them hurt me.”

And at those words, the door breaks off the hinges, and my phone slips from my hand and drops to the ground.

Three large men appear through the broken and gaping wood, and I press against the wall behind me. I can feel the cool cement against my lower back as I realize that there’s nowhere to go. I’m trapped.

Shit. Shit.

Protect your head.

“Come on, guys. It was just some harmless flirting,” I say, hating that my voice is shaking but trying to lighten the mood. It doesn’t work. It only seems to make them angrier. They advance on me, and just as the first fist lands on my face, I hear bigoted words pollute the air around me before I fall to the ground.

My arms wrap around my head, trying like hell to keep it safe as the first kick lands on my side. Pain screams through my ribs, and I gasp, a groan leaving my lips.

Fuck, this hurts. It fucking hurts.

“Please,” I beg, but they don’t listen, of course they don’t listen. These men don’t think with their brains, they don’t pay attention to reason. They just operate out of hate.

Another kick comes with a loud shout, pain shooting up my abdomen, my breath leaving me in a painful cry.

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