Page 2 of Aria

Ian moved forward so fast, like an animal; a skilled predator closing in on its prey. “You’ll always be scared and weak,” he murmured, crouching down until we were face-to-face. His hand extended, knuckles grazing over a slow-healing bruise along my cheekbone. “That’s ‘cause I’ll always be with you, little girl. I’ll be hiding in every shadow, every creaky footstep in the hallway. I’ll be lurking inside every man you think you can fix.”

A gasp escaped, leaving me rattled.

“You can run, Chelly Bean, but I’ll be right behind you, breathing down your neck.” He brushed a finger down the side of my throat, his eyes dipping to where his hands had choked me. A smile slipped. “Besides, who’s going to take care of you? You think you’ll find someone who’ll put up with your bullshit? Someone who will… what?” The smile stretched, laced with cruelty. “Love you?”

My head swung back and forth while stringy, unwashed hair smacked me in the face. “Stop… I’m going to make it on my own. I-I’m leaving you for good.”

“Where would a lost little girl like you go?” he pondered. Leaning in, Ian’s hot breath whispered along my lips, dripping with liquor and venom. “You’re nothing but a disease—a leach. No house, no car, no job. Even Mommy and Daddy left you behind. They knew you were beyond repair.”

My eyes narrowed.

“I only tolerate your stupid ass. That’s the best you’re ever gonna get.”

I shoved him away, planting my palms against his shoulders until he teetered back with a chuckle. Scrambling to my feet, my legs were still shaking as I tried to find my balance. “If you come after me, I’m calling the police.”

“Scary,” he mocked.

Newfound purpose bubbled in my blood.

I didn’t want to live like this anymore.

And I didn’t want to die.

Sparing him a final glance, I whipped around, darting out of his living room and heading for the door. It was time to start over.

It was time to truly live.

“You’ll be crawlin’ back in no time, Chelly Belly,” Ian called out, his words prickling my skin as I escaped into the afternoon sun. Before the door slammed shut, laughter mingled with his final send-off. “After all, there ain’t no place like home.”

My feet pounded the pavement as I raced through the grass, down the sidewalk, and into a frightening unknown.

Home.

He was right—therewasno place like home.

I just hadn’t found it yet…

CHAPTERONE

CHELSIE

NOW

It was Beatlemania all over again.

Fans were crying, screaming, fainting, undressing, and pulling each other’s hair just to get closer to the four men on stage. The crowd consisted of hormonal college girls, soccer moms, grandmothers, men, and a pair of disabled women using their wheelchairs as weapons as they weaved through the masses.It was pure hysteria, and I couldn't wait until the night was over.

I inched down the skirt of my waitress uniform as I made my way over to a corner table, holding a tray of refreshments high above my head.The noise level at The Pit Stop bordered on painful, and I adjusted my handy ear plugs when I passed by a table of twenty-somethings.

A girl in a scandalous pink tube top squealedover the music. "Oh. My. God. He looked at me.Devon Sawyer just looked at me.You saw that, right?"

Her friend nodded with excitement."He totally looked at you!Scratch that—hetotallychecked you out."

Both girls shared in a girl-bonding-giggle-fest, and I held my tongue as I walked by the Scandalous Twins. My fake smile was firmly in place, my pleasantries—well, pleasant—while I passed out drinks to another table of college girls. They handed me a tip, so I upped my smile to an award-winning flash of teeth.

It twisted into a sour scowl as soon as I pivoted and headed toward the kitchen.

I hated my job. I hated the crowds, the loud music.I hated everything from my four-inch stiletto heels to the crooked nametag pinned to my collared shirt.

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