Page 38 of Such A Filthy Girl

Graham stood, leaning down to place a peck on my forehead. ‘You just need a nap, babe.’

‘You’re not listening to me. You never listen to me.’ I pushed my chair back, fury rising.

‘Because you’re beinghysterical.’

He lit my fuse. I tore his ring from my finger and thrust it into his hand.

‘Graham, I want you to go find someone who fits. I want you to have someone who makes you her whole universe. But that woman is not me.’

‘I’ve never hurt you.’ Realisation finally hit Graham, his eyebrows lifting.

‘A relationship needs to be more than just not hurting. I need a man who wants what I want. Who craves the things I crave.’

Red infused Graham’s face as he rolled his eyes. ‘Is this about fucking sexagain?’

‘It’s about so much more than that, Graham. So much more. If you’d ever tried to meet me half way, maybe things would have been different.’

Graham gripped my neck in a lightening fast move, cutting off my air.

‘Is this what you want?’

Shaking my head, I spluttered, trying to speak.

‘You want me to choke you and take you like a little whore? You’re a sick bitch, Estella.’

My eyes bugged as I reached up, scratching at his wrists, trying to catch a breath.

An ache stole of my chest as my vision spotted, Graham’s nose flaring.

My phone rang, pulling Graham out of the rage he’d found.

He let me go, dropping me to my knees as I gulped down air.

‘You deserve to be alone,’ he spat.

I stayed there on the floor, sobbing until the door shut behind him.

The phone continued to ring, Leo’s name flashing on the screen. He’dbeen watching us.

Wrapping my arms around my knees, I gave into the pain, letting it wash me under.

TWENTY SEVEN

LEO

Graham held Estella pinned by her throat. Panic rose in my chest and I grabbed my phone, ringing her number.

‘C’mon, Starshine,’ I demanded. ‘Pick up.’

Nothing.

My heart broke as I watched from afar, unable to help her.

She didn’t pick up the phone. I dialled nine one one, ready to plead for someone to get to her, but relief hit before I could hit the green button.

Graham let go of her, having the audacity to look down at her like she was worth nothing.

Estella dropped to her knees, her chest raising in jerking sobs.

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