Page 32 of Hold Me Before You Go

He stepped out into the hallway, forcing me to take a few steps back. He kept coming until my back was against the wall, his nostrils flaring. “When did you stop trying for me, huh?” He reached down, grabbing my waist, fisting the fabric of the dress.

“Robert,” I begged, my voice shaking now.

He lowered his head, his face just inches from mine. “I can feel your fucking fat rolls back here, Carrie. What kind of man would I be if I went out in public with a wife like this?”

This wasn’t the first time he’d said something like this, but I hoped the last time would have been the final time. Apparently, I was wrong.

I still wasn’t good enough for him.

“Robert, I have been trying,” I assured him, my voice small.

He let out a harsh, taunting laugh as he released my dress and took a step back, stroking his clean-shaven jaw. “Doesn’t look like it,” he bit off, looking away from me.

My bottom lip wobbled, and I took a step toward him—

A sharp pain scattered across my right cheek as the back of his hand connected with it, forcing my head to the side. The sound of his slap vibrated off the walls, and I collapsed, trying and failing to brace my fall. I landed on my side hard, my head slamming into the small table beside me. The vase on top shook, and my eyes shot up to watch it, terrified that it would fall to the floor.

When it didn’t, I looked back to my husband to find him standing over me, his chest heaving. “You’re nothing to me, Carrie.”

I shook my head, lightly touching my throbbing cheek. “You don’t mean that,” I told him, knowing the truth.

He loved me.

I knew it.

He just had a hard time showing it, that was all.

His eyes zeroed in on my cheek. “Put some ice on that before it bruises. We have your father’s charity dinner next week,” he clipped, putting his hands into the pockets of his slacks. He turned on his heel and walked down the hallway. “I’m going out. Cancel that reservation.”

I lay on the floor of my home, in the dress my husband bought me, watching him walk away. A single tear fell, and I quickly blinked the rest away….

“Who are you?” I asked as the memory of my anniversary faded, focusing on Monica now.

Both she and Brandon looked at me, shocked I actually spoke. I ignored Brandon, only focusing on her. “Answer me,” I demanded, no longer caring.

“You don’t know who I am?” she quipped, the unlit cigarette falling from her lips to the bed.

Before I could stop my words, they bounced off the tip of my tongue. “I wouldn’t have asked if I did,” I deadpanned, my voice hard.

Brandon smiled, showing all his teeth. “I see I didn’t kick that fucking attitude out of you.”

My eyes snapped to him. “What do you want with me?” I demanded.

He moved then, stepping away from Monica, slowly closing the distance between us. Thankfully, he stopped short a few feet from me and pulled on his pants. He clicked his tongue as he tucked himself into his jeans, buttoning them. He looked at Monica and jerked his head to me. “Go ahead and tell her, Mon,”he suggested. “Tell her the truth so we can get this shit over with.”

Monica folded her arms over her chest, pulling her gaze from me to address him. “I thought you gave her enough drugs. You said she would be out until we left Utah.”

Brandon pulled on a t-shirt and shook his head. “No, I said sheshouldbe out until then. I don’t know how much to give her. I’ve never worked with that shit.”

They were talking as if I wasn’t in the room, and it was pissing me off. Still, I kept my mouth shut, pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth once more. Asking her that was stupid, and despite more memories about my marriage spouting up to the surface, I couldn’t let my emotions get the best of me. I had to bide my time and figure out what they wanted from me.

And like hell was I going to let Brandon drug me again.

Nightwalkerwas a dangerous and new drug, according to Grayson and his team. I didn’t think my body could handle anymore.

“Whatever,” Monica huffed. “Just give her some more.”

Brandon looked at me, pondering as his eyes narrowed. “She doesn’t need to be drugged again. She won’t be able to give me what I want if she’s out of it.”

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