Page 89 of The Scars of Us

As he reached for my underwear, wanting to remove the last barrier I had protecting me from him, I thrust a palm strike right to his nose, causing him to grab it instinctively as blood began to stream from it.

Squirming out from under him, I flipped over and pushed up on my knees in preparation to run for the front door. Kaleb swept my legs out from under me just as I stood, sending me back to the hardwood floor. Reacting too late, my face slammed into the unyielding ground before I could brace myself. Stars shot into my vision as the iron tang of my blood filled my mouth.

Kaleb rolled me over and mounted me. I weakly tried to push him off me, but he reared back and slapped me with so much force that my ears rang. My eyes began to shut on their own accord as he pulled his shirt off. I just lay there, practically defeated, unable to find the strength to fight back anymore as pain smothered everything else.I’m not strong enough.

“I finally get to finish what I started all those years ago,” he mumbled in a lust-laden voice.

Never give up, Warrior. Always fight back.Ryker’s voice played in my mind.

I weakly brought my knee up, connecting with his crotch, but it barely affected him.I have no fight left. He always wins.Tears began to trickle down my face before I began to numb myself, hoping to withdraw internally enough so I wouldn’t feel anything that Kaleb was going to do to me.

Then, pounding on the door startled both Kaleb and me. He stilled with his hands on the button of his jeans, then snapped his gaze up to mine. His eyes gave a silent threat, but I opened my mouth to scream anyway before his hand slammed down and muffled my cries.

A dull voice yelled through the door. “Kaiya, it’s me. Please come talk to me, baby.”

Ryker! Oh, thank God!My brief happiness was extinguished as Kaleb leaned over me, whispering in my ear. “Don’t make a sound.”

As I was about to ignore him and scream for Ryker, I felt cold, hard metal digging into my side.Where did he get a gun? Oh my God, did he shoot Kamden?

Fear penetrated my being, instantly silencing any form of protest as I froze in place.

Ryker continued to bang on the door. “I know you’re in there. I’m not leaving until you come talk to me—I’ll stand out here all night if I have to.”

Tears watered in my eyes at the thought of Kaleb hurting Ryker.Please leave.

“I mean it, Ky. I’m not going anywhere,” Ryker yelled as he knocked harder.

Kaleb cursed under his breath as he stood, pulling me up with him as he kept the gun pressed to my side. He walked us to the door as he quietly threatened, “Make him leave or I’ll kill him.”

My heart clenched at the thought of Ryker dying, especially because of me. I never should’ve gotten involved with him, never should’ve entangled him in my web of issues.

When we reached the door, Kaleb dug the gun deeper into my injured side. A small yelp of pain burst from me, but I smashed my lips together to stop it so Ryker wouldn’t hear. I wasn’t sure if Kaleb would kill me, at least not until he had raped me, but I knew without a doubt he would kill Ryker. I needed to protect him, even if it meant breaking my heart by pushing him away.

“What do you want, Ryker?” I asked, trying to keep my voice even.

“Baby, let me in. I want to talk to you,” he pleaded. The pain in his voice tightened my chest.

“That’s not a good idea. You should just leave,” I snapped as I fought back tears.

“I’m not leaving until you talk to me.” His tone was firm, the one he used when his mind was made up.

Damn it, he’s so stubborn.

“I’m talking to you, now go!” I yelled as my tears broke through.Please just leave.

“Why are you acting like this, Warrior?”

I set my forehead against the door, wondering if Ryker was doing the same on the other side. Kaleb twisted the gun, reminding me of my task. I hissed loudly in pain as I gritted the lie. “I don’t want to see you anymore.”

“Don’t do this, Warrior. I can’t lose you. Tell me what to do to fix this.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks. My vision blurred from a combination of the moisture in my eyes and pain from the barrel digging into my ribs. “I can’t be fixed. Some demons just don’t leave you alone. They haunt you forever,” I eluded, hoping Ryker would understand what I meant and get help once he left. But even if he did, they probably wouldn’t make it in time.

He didn’t respond for several seconds, and I thought he had left. Then the silence broke when he said, “I understand. I’ll give you some space tonight, but I’m coming back over here tomorrow to straighten everything out. We can face those demons together.”

I heard his footsteps going down the stairs as Kaleb pulled me away from the door, leading me to my bedroom instead of Kamden’s. He tucked the gun in the back of his pants as he tightened his hold on my arm, driving his nails into my skin.

Then, chaos erupted as Ryker burst through the front door. Kaleb reached for his gun, but I threw my weight into him, sending both of us crashing into the wall as Ryker neared us.

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