Page 49 of Come Inside

But that wouldn’t save me.

“You aren’t even listening to me!” His enraged voice jolted me out of my calculations.

He threw the phone across the room, his now free hand finding the scar on my forehead. He stroked the puckered skin there.

It was the last mark he ever left on me.

It reignited my fire, this man wouldn’t hurt me again. I wouldn’t allow it. I could save my fucking self.

Reinvigorated and formulating a plan, I smiled softly at him. “I’m sorry that you couldn’t get over me. I never stopped thinking about you either.” The lie was bitter. I raised my head up, and he beamed at me, leaning down, incorrectly assuming I was going to kiss him.

Instead, my lips found his cheek and I opened my mouth. The smell of alcohol permeated my nostrils.

He let out a disgusting moan.

My teeth clamped down on his fleshy skin there.

He screamed; he hadn’t expected it. He was caught so off guard that he let go of my wrists as he tried to yank back.

It was all I needed.

Tasting copper, I released my mouth from his bloodied cheek, spitting onto the bed.

In his discombobulated distress, I was able to push him back onto the mattress. With the newfound space between us, I attempted to jump away, but he caught me by the elbow, his fingers painfully pressing into my skin.

I began to scream, “Kazi! Mateo! Help!” Years of self-defense classes jumbled in my brain as a rage-fueled Daniel attempted to drag me onto him.

Fuck! No!

I fell back on him with all my body weight and heard a satisfying grunt as he let me go. With only a moment to spare, I used my legs and arms to roll over. We were close enough to the edge that by escaping his grasp, I tumbled to the ground.

The carpet burned my knees as I landed. It was the first time I realized I was entirely naked. Ignoring the disturbing realization, I got to my feet and searched the area for a weapon.

“Come here my precious angel, I just want to give you a fucking bite too.” His tone was mocking as he got up, his face flushed, his cheek still bleeding. He appraised me, licking his lips. “Well you aged quite fucking well didn’t you?” He zeroed in on the marks Mateo had left on my thighs. “But you’re still a disgusting whore, aren’t you?”

What am I supposed to do now?

I screamed for Kazi and Mateo. Tears attempted to escape my eyes, but I blinked them back fervently.

No, I can do this.

I leveled my gaze at Daniel. Instead of backing away, I took a step into his space.

He smiled smugly. “You always came crawling back to me, didn’t you?”

I aimed for my next move.

He didn’t expect my elbow to hit him directly in the throat.

Men never protect their throats.Izzy’s voice reverberated around my mind.

He made a gurgling noise as he fell on his hands and knees.

I didn’t wait. Didn’t look back. I knew this would be my very last chance.

I bolted to the door and just as I tried to open it, it whipped open and knocked my hand into the wall.

“YARA!” the growl Mateo let out sent tingling waves of electricity all the way down to my toes.

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