Page 82 of From You to Me

“But isn’t the band taking a break now? So you must have all the time to plan your wedding. I remember you already planned most of it in high school anyway, and you’ve been dreaming of your big wedding forever.”

Katy hiked a shoulder. “Yeah, I know.But Lan and I haven’t had the time to sit down and talk about it.”

I frowned as we headed up the stairs. “Is everything okay between you and Lan?”

“Yes,” she replied too quickly, her eyes widening slightly.

I didn’t know why, but that felt like a lie.

“Oh, come on, Evy. Katy and Lan still can’t keeps their hands off each other. That ass can’t survive a day without her,” Lily pointed out.

A familiar bark pulled me away from the conversation, a heavy line marred between my brows as I watched Strawberry run to me.

Confusion swept across my mind, and a freezing chill covered my heart.

What was she doing out in the hallway?

“Fucking finally,” a voice called.

A familiar, big, burly man waited for me right outside my apartment.

I straightened as I took a step forward. “T, what the fuck are you doing here?”

He raised a brow. “Don’t act like you don’t know why. I did give you a warning not to make me come here.”

My hands trembled as I moved toward him. Only then did I notice that my door was wide open. “I paid you this month.” I pointed a shaky finger at my door, trying to put on a brave face. “And why the fuck is my door open? Did you break into my apartment?”

He shrugged, a wicked laugh bursting out of him. “It was open when I came. Not like I’m going to find anything of value in your shitty place.”

“Evy.” Katy tugged my wrist, pulling me back. “Who is this man?”

“Take Lily and stay back, Katy. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

“No, we’re not leaving you.” Katy’s voice firmed.

Strawberry wedged her way between us, barking loudly at him. I immediately crouched, pulling on her collar and dragging her behind me.

And just as I rose, T closed in on me in a quick stride. “Cut the antics. I told you again and again, not to get on David’s bad side. You’ve been wearing my patience thin, Evelyn. Bossman will wring me up my ass if you don’t give me what I need.”

I swallowed the fear that was lifting my throat. “T, I understand, but I paid you what I can. I’m in a difficult situation at the moment. I swear I’ll get you the rest of it by the weekend.”

A twisted smile pulled his face as his beady eyes met mine. He hooked his grimy smoke-stained finger on my chin, getting in my face. “I don’t think you understand what I’m saying, bitch. The money you paid wasn’t even half of it.”

“Hey.” Katy pushed him away. “Don’t fucking touch her. Leave right this second, or I’ll call the cops.”

He sneered. “Fuck off, bitch.”

My eyes flashed as I got up in his face. “Look, you need to leave, T.” I tried to steel my voice, forcing bravado.

In an instant, his gruff hand clasped around my neck and spun me around, knocking the breath out of me as he slammed me against the wall. “You have one day to give me what your bitch of a mother owes us. David has been generous in allowing you to pay at a snail’s pace, but don’t fucking test him anymore.” His hand squeezed my neck so hard that the edges of my vision were blurring.

Strawberry’s loud barks filled the room as she clamped her teeth around his ankle, trying to pull him away from me, but he gave a swift kick that made her roll away with a whine.

My heart thundered as my fingers tried to claw on his forearm as I struggled against his hold.

“Hey, let her go,” Katy shouted, trying to grab his shoulder, but he was too huge and big.

Lily’s teeth gritted as she tried hard to pull on his other side. “Leave her alone.”

---