Page 22 of Through The Woods

I could’ve stayed and argued, but what was the point? He wanted me gone and nothing I said was going to change his mind. I ignored the stab of pain in my side and slammed the door shut behind me before marching upstairs to find my room. I’d barely made it to the top when a hand closed over my wrist, yanking me back down a step.

“You wanna slam doors like a fucking toddler? You can do it up here where no one can hear you, Sweetheart. I ain’t runnin’ a daycare.” Charm dragged me into a room that I assumed was going to be mine, but I wrenched myself from his grasp and stumbled back into the hallway.

“You just want to lock me up like some prisoner...holding me against my will.”

His eyes widened in shock. “Against your will? Let’s go.” He latched onto my bicep and pulled me back down the stairs.

“Go to hell!” I forced through gritted teeth.

His jaw worked angrily as he replied, “Oh Sweetheart, look around you. I’m already there.”

It didn’t matter how hard I dug the rubber soles of my flip flops into the wooden stairs, Charm was a lot stronger. With hardly any effort on his part, he forced me through the living area and out the door. Several of the bikers raised their heads, but when they saw it was him, they immediately looked away.

“Here you are. Free as a fucking bird. Go. Run. Get high. Whatever the fuck you want to do. I ain’t stoppin’ you.” He deposited me onto the gravel and turned to go back into the lodge, but I snagged the edge of his leather vest, stopping him.

“Please, Charm. I’m—I’m—I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me here.” I kept a death grip on him and watched as his chest heaved up and down with each angry breath as he looked down at me.

He was going to beat the shit out of me and for the first time in my life, I wasn’t so sure that I didn’t deserve it. With that thought, I reluctantly let go and took a step back.

The intensity of his stare seared me, so I focused on the ground in front of me, expecting his fists.

After what felt like an eternity, he spoke. “I’ll give you tomorrow. That’s it. Think you can handle that?”

I nodded earnestly. “I can do it. I swear to you.”

His gaze softened for a fraction of a second before the glare fell back into place. “I won’t tolerate any more of the shit. We clear?”

I shakily nodded again before he walked back inside, closing the door quietly behind him and leaving me with the stars.

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