Page 19 of Beatitude

There’s the skin slapping skin before the driver—Bucky Reynoldsgrits out, “I’m going to take personal pleasure in knowing that once I get you to the stop, the rest of your life will be spent knowing that I fucked your little ass until you vomited from the pain.” I nearly lose my hearing and vision at the rage building inside me as I press down on the accelerator.

“Fuck!” I scream, punching my steering wheel as I will my car to go faster. I’m cutting him apart, slowly, so he feels everything. I’m going to force him to eat his own intestines and choke on his dick.

“Yeah,” I hear her spit and I’m assuming it lands on his face.Angel, I love your fearlessness but not when I’m not there to stop him. “Well, I’m going to take personal pleasure in knowing that no matter what happens to me, my big, mean, scary boyfriend will stop at nothing to find you, and he will rip your heart out and make you eat it.”Her…boyfriend?I rubmy chest as an odd sensation wraps itself around my heart and squeezes.

“Yeah?” He huffs and I hear him putting his truck into park. “And where’s your big scary boyfriend now, huh?”

I’m five minutes out, and when I get there, it’s going to be a fucking blood bath.

EVERLY

EIGHT

“Get off me!” I scream asBuckythe filthy asshole trucker drags me by my hair around the back of this run-the-fuck-down truck stop. I don’t think I’m supposed to make it out of here alive. Bucky tosses me into the back room, using his boot to shove my back, making me fall forward on an open tool box. I hiss in pain as the corner slices my palm.

“Shoo wee!” he calls loudly while gripping my hair again and yanking me to my feet. “I don’t know about you, Sweetheart, but I’ve been looking forward to bustin’ this ass since I watched you bouncing it down the highway.”

“Get. Off!” I grit out while trying to elbow him. He blocks me while unfastening my jeans.

“Oh, I’m about to.” I gag at his voice as he shoves me to the floor. Ronan’s phone falls from my pocket and I notice that, unlike before, the screen isn’t locked. And there’s a green light on the top. Is… Is Ronan tracking me? Is he listening?

“Ronan,” I whisper as I hear Bucky removing his belt. “I’msorry. Just know, this was not your fault. I don’t blame you, and you’re not a monster.”

“Are you saying your prayers there, Sweetheart?” Bucky chuckles as he gets to his knees. “Because God ain’t saving you this time.” He leans over and I know it’s now or never.

“I know,” I whisper before rolling over onto my back. “I’m saving myself,” gripping the chisel I grabbed out of the tool box, I drive it into the side of his neck. He begins to sputter as blood shoots out. It takes everything in me but I grip the chisel’s handle tightly as I drag it across his throat, slicing it open and bathing me in his blood.

Bucky’s lifeless body collapses on top of me and I instantly wiggle free before scooting myself back against a wall, bringing my knees to my chest. I’m mildly aware of Ronan’s phone vibrating, but I don’t reach for it. I can’t, my body is frozen, as if in shock, even though my mind is racing. Every single thought racing through my head and not one is regret. Well not regret for this. Regret for leaving Ronan though, god I have so much regret for that. I should’ve stayed, should’ve dropped to my knees and told him the truth. That I wasn’t scared of him or his darkness, but I was scared of getting in deeper, and losing him.

The door flies open and I know it’s Ronan; I don’t have to look, I can feel his overwhelming presence.

“Oh my god,” he breathes out as he rushes to me. I notice he places his gun on the floor behind. His hands go to touch me but he pulls back, as if in fear. His eyes scan me frantically. “Where are you hurt?” he manages and I finally look up at him, cocking my head to one side.Hurt?I hold my sliced palm up, noting it’s covered in drying blood. I had no idea blood could dry so fast. Though maybe it’s been a while? Howlong have I been sitting here?

“Everly!” Ronan’s desperate voice pulls me out of my haze as his hands grip my face. “Angel, w-what… are you hurt?” I shake my head slowly as my eyes travel to Bucky, he’s face down in a pool of blood.

“I…” My voice sounds so far away, like I’m hearing myself talk in another room. “Didn’t—there was no knife. I-I couldn’t twist,” I whisper, staring up at him as the burning sensation hits my eyes. “I couldn’t twist,” I say again as it all begins to hit me. “Oh my god, I slit his…he bled… so much, Ronan.” My bottom lip wobbles as I stare at him. I’m not staring at Ronan the serial killer though. There is so much fear, worry and love in his face, in his stare. And it’s all directed at me.

“Everly, baby, you’re in shock.”Am I? No I can’t be. My brain is working. I mean my body isn’t listening but…

Ronan pulls me to his chest and it’s now I realize I’m sobbing. When did I start crying? Why am I crying? What is happening to me?

“Hey, Pops,” a male voice drawls as he walks into the back. “Hurry up with the bitch, I gotta ship her to—” He stops talking when he sees the gory scene before him and Ronan’s pointed suppressed pistol at him.

“Ship who?” Ronan growls, standing up and pulling me behind him. The guy, maybe my age, clears his throat as he looks at Bucky’s dead body again.

“You killed my father?” He whispers in disbelief.

“He was trying to rape me!” I shout, startling both men.

“So you fucking slaughter him like a hog?! Look at you, you fucking freak!”Look at me?I look down at all the blood covering me, my clothes, my hair, the shoes Ronan got me.

“Oh no,” I breathe out. “M-My new shoes!” a whimperescapes me as I look apologetically to Ronan. “I’m so sorry.”

“Angel, I’ll buy you as many pairs as you want later but now isn’t the best time.” He gestures to his gun and the guy.

“You fucking psychotic bit—” I gasp and cover my mouth as the bullet enters the man’s head, exiting and spattering on the door behind him.

“I oughta shoot him again, fucker, calling you that.” Ronan growls before turning back to me. “Are you with me, Angel?”

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