Page 67 of Sparrow

I COLLAPSE BACKonto the front door when I close it and slide down to sit on my butt; hysterical sobs finally leave my body.

I had to break his heart to keep him safe, but I destroyed mine in the process.

The minute I felt Jaxon come up behind me at the door, when I was talking to Gray, I felt him press the cold metal of the gun against my back. I knew then I had to make it big and make it loud. I needed him to get away so he could be safe.

Jaxon would have killed him otherwise. I know he would have.

“Nicely done, baby.” Jaxon walks into the room, clapping his hands.

“Fuck you,” I spit at him.

“That’ll come very soon.” He wraps his hands around my arms and yanks me to my feet.

“You made the right choice, baby.” He is dragging me up the stairs. “We’ll spend the night here together. You can show me how sorry you are for leaving me and how grateful you are that I’m giving you a second chance.”

“Jaxon, you don’t have to do this. I’ll go with you willingly. You don’t have to force me. Please just get rid of the gun. It’s scaring me.” My feet scramble across the floor, trying to keep up with him.

“Good. You taste so much sweeter when you’re scared.”

He tosses me like a rag doll onto my bed and closes the door behind him, turning the lock with a click.

I scramble back to sit against the headboard, staring at him, too scared to really move any other way.

He paces back and forth across the room—gun in hand.

“This could have all been avoided, baby. I think you know that.”

I don’t speak, I just let him talk and talk and talk.

“You got this big idea in your head that you deserved better, that you could survive without me. You can’t. I’m your king, aren’t I?”

He whips the gun around and points it directly at me.

“Yes,” I whisper, “you are.”

He stops pacing for a moment and pulls a small wire from his pocket. It’s bent into the shape of the letter J.

“I’m going to make sure you never forget who you belong to. I’m going to make sure everyone knows you’re mine.” He flips open a butane lighter and runs the flame along the wire, heating it up.

“What are you going to do, Jaxon?” I watch in horror as the wire begins to glow a bright red.

He stalks closer to me. “I’m going brand myself onto the soft, creamy skin of your neck, then I’m going to hold you down and fuck that sweet pussy from behind until you scream.”

I shake my head wildly and scramble off the bed. “No!”

He pounces on me, tossing me back to the bed and climbs on top of me, holding my arms above my head. I buck and fight, summoning all the strength I have inside of me.

I think of Nora. I think of Cadence. I think of Grayson. I think of my Dad. I will not be a victim. I will fight. I. Will. Live.

With all the might I can muster, I bring my knee up, and it meets my target directly between his legs.

“Ahhhh!” he shouts and rolls off of me.

I scurry off the bed and bolt for the door, unlocking and pulling it open, preparing to run when he wraps me up from behind.

I struggle, kicking and punching until he loses his footing and we both tumble down to the floor.

I roll to my back and try to scramble away from him, but he yanks me across the hardwood by my ankles then climbs on top of me, straddling my stomach and wrapping his hands around my neck.

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