Page 64 of Dodge

He stopped frantically pulling at his limp dick and stared back. “I wish you hadn’t woken up yet, Fauna.”

This was not a comedy. I was on my back while a man I barely knew tried to rape me.Fuck no.“Ged the fuck off me, ash-ol.” My words came out slurred as hell, but I was getting some control back. I pushed at him and batted my hands at his head.

“Slut. All you women. Think you can be a man. I’ll show you who’s a real man.”

He tried to part my legs, but I instinctually clamped them together and drew my knees up hard. This was fortunate, as I nailed him right in the groin. A high-pitched scream came from his mouth, and he rolled off me to the floor, clutching his teeny-weeny injured peeny.

A rhyme? Fuck, I need to burn this drug out of my system.

I rolled over and fell off the bed on the opposite side. More pain woke me up further, and I tried to stand. The world tilted, and I splatted on the ground. I tried again, this time making it to my hands and knees. Dewey kept crying behind me as I crawled to the door. There were steps I had to deal with. I’d figure that out when I got there. Ride down, slide down, or glide down.Dammit!

The crying dissolved into whines and sniffles. I didn’t dare take a peek back. All my focus and effort were on the door and reaching it.

A foot planted on my butt and pushed me flat.

“You made me do this.”

Something wrapped around my neck. One of the extensions I used for my bedside table lamp? It really didn’t matter as it pulled and jerked my neck back. I couldn’t breathe. I gagged and coughed. My hands scrabbled at the cord, cutting into my skin, my fingernails scratching my flesh bloody as I tried to loosen the noose.

Fuck me, I’m going to die.

Dodge would find my naked body and would be devastated. Macie would have a hard time too. My restaurant would fall into disrepair and go back to the wasted space it was before I bought it. Harriet? Might shed a tear or two, but I bet she’d be relieved to be rid of the family embarrassment.

My hands stopped moving and fell limply to the floor. I hung by my neck with my loose hair forming a curly halo as I stared at them. My ears roared as sound faded and my vision grayed. Dying this way didn’t hurt. I expected it to, but it was more of a slow vanishing. I hoped Dodge would heal in time and find someone else to be with. Men like him deserved to be happy and loved.

A thump sounded, and I realized it was my head hitting the floor. A moment later, the cord was ripped from my throat, and I was rolled onto my back. My lungs didn’t work. A mouth came down over mine and breathed for me, forcing air into my starved body. Again and again, someone breathed for me until I coughed and sputtered.

“She’s back. Hand me the oxygen mask.”

I heard screaming, thudding, begging, and crying as a plastic cup covered my face. I tried to speak, but my throat hurt too damn bad.

Pain. I could feel pain.

I was still alive.

“Dodge, if you’re gonna kill him, best not do it in front of me.”

Blue. That was Betsey’s son. My swollen eyes opened in tiny slits, and I saw Rafter’s face above mine. I guessed he was the one who revived me.

“Don’t try to speak yet. We got here in time, but you’ve got some damage. Ambulance is on the way.” He glanced over to his left. “We’re gonna need two before long. Dodge just beat the shit outta the guy who assaulted you. Your vitals are good, and I’d recommend staying awake, but if you want to pass out, that’s okay. I’ll keep you safe.”

Passing out sounded like a handy-dandy-candy idea.

CHAPTER34

I wokeup in a hospital emergency room partition. Dodge was sitting in a chair next to me, his hand on mine. An IV bag hung above my head, and there were patches on my chest to measure my heartbeat. He noticed I was awake and stood to lean over me. His eyes were red.

“Fauna? Sweetness? Can you hear me?”

It hurt to move, so I blinked lazily and grunted a weird “Uh-huh” at him. My eyes moved to the Styrofoam pitcher on the table next to him.

“Water?” he asked.

At my gargling response, he poured a cup and placed a bendy straw to my lips. I sucked at the cool liquid and let it play over my tongue before attempting to swallow. It was tough and hurt like hell, but it worked.

“I called Macie, and he’s on his way. Dewey’s in jail. I haven’t been charged with assault and battery, but that might be comin’. Blue is keepin’ that off me right now.” He stroked the curls back from the braids Tambre put in and maintained for me. “The doctor said you’re gonna be fine in a few days. You’ve got some bad swelling and bruising, but he’s got something going in the IV to help with that. I hope you don’t mind, but I lied about our relationship and said we were married so I could give consent to take some blood for testing. Blue said if we can confirm GHB in your system, that’s all the evidence needed to convict the fucker. They’re also testing for DNA and are gonna try to get him for Zelda and Katie Grace too.”

Tears overflowed his lower lids and tracked down his face. “If you hadn’t started breathing again….”

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