Page 80 of Decoding Morse

His jaw ticked, but his smile only widened. “I’ve been here for a while. Where have you been?”

This dickhead.

Was he really questioning my commitment to his mother? He didn’t deserve Carol, and I was in no mood to put up with his shit. Or to go to jail for assault. Determined to take the high road and not lay into the motherfucker, I pushed my shoulders back and headed for the waiting room.

Before I could take my second step, arms wrapped around me. Startled, I tried to shove him off, but Eric yanked me against him. I cried out, and he slapped a hand over my mouth.

What the fuck?

Rage filled my veins as Eric Landry tugged me toward the stairwell. I bent my knees, trying to escape his hold, but I was so stiff from the day-long motorcycle ride that I couldn’t move fast enough. He picked me up, hauling me against him. I swung and kicked wildly as he opened the door he’d come out of and squeezed us through.

Once we were in the stairwell, I saw why he hadn’t fully opened the door. Rabbit was lying in the way. His eyes were closed, and blood pooled beside his head. Was he dead? Had this monster killed Rabbit? I tried to scream, but Eric’s hand muffled the sound. So, I bit him.

Something happened. Pain exploded across my cheek. My vision blurred, and my ears rang. I was suddenly facing the railing. Had the motherfucker just slapped me? Before I could get my bearings, Eric slammed me into the railing. It bit into my stomach as he gripped the back of my head and shoved me forward, bending me over the metal to show me how far of a drop it was to the bottom.

“See that?” he growled in my ear. “If you don’t shut the fuck up, I’ll toss your ass over.”

I’d never been afraid of heights, but this was my first time staring a five-story fall in the face. Fear skittered up my spine, turning my body to lead.

“Now come on.” He jerked me forward.

I stumbled, trying to keep pace as he half dragged me down the stairs. “Why are you doing this?”

“What’d you expect me to do? Sit back and allow you to slide in and take what’s mine? No. That’s not happening.”

What the…?

“I have taken nothing from you. There must be some kind of misunderstanding. Look, if we could just talk?—”

He yanked me forward so hard that pain shot through my neck and down my spine. “I told you to shut your goddamn mouth.”

So much for reasoning with him. I clamped my mouth closed and complied, biding my time until we reached a less-than-lethal height. By the third floor, my leg was doing the screaming for me. Every step down, something behind my knee sent shooting pain down my calf. Around the second floor, I stumbled forward. Had Eric not been trying to rip my arm out of the socket, I probably would have fallen down the stairs. He tugged me to a stop, dragged me closer to him, and then slapped his hand over my mouth again.

“Bite me again and die,” he said.

Appeased by the fear he must have seen in my eyes, he half-carried me the rest of the way. We pushed through the door into a hallway. I frantically struggled to get away, screaming despite his warning, even though it did no good. He manhandled me across the hall and out of the exit.

When I landed a kick to his shin, he threw me against the building. The rough brick bit into my shoulder, making my teeth rattle.

“You’ll pay for that, you stupid bitch!”

He wound up and punched me in the stomach.

Oh. My. God.

Searing hot pain doubled me over, making me cough and wheeze. Eric chuckled, proud of himself. But someone was coming. A sleek black town car rolled toward us. Seeing my chance at a rescue, I waved my arms and tried to stand upright.

Eric grabbed hold of me and dragged me toward the car.

No!

This was not a rescue, this was his getaway car, and I knew the odds. If this asshole got me into that vehicle, I was as good as dead. He might have already killed Rabbit. Spurred by the thought, I fought for all I was worth.

Fuck this!

I screamed.

“Amelia!” Morse shouted behind me.

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