Page 62 of Falling for Her

My nostrils flare as anger takes hold. She wasn’t sorry when she stole the money, though. Heck, she even stole some more this morning. She took advantage of my trust like the backstabbing thief she is.

Huffing, I pick up the keys, the books, and the cash and head to the back. I walk through the kitchen, past the staff bathrooms and into my office. I quickly open the wall safe and put everything inside before grabbing my master key and bag. I lock the office door, suddenly happy it’s a different key than what Trina had. I left the door open for her while I was away, which was a stupid mistake.

“Great, now I’m going to have to pay someone to come and change the locks,” I murmur as I squeeze the keys in my hand, knowing she could have copied the front and back door keys. I shake my head as my phone rings, and I smile a little when I get it out and see who it is, someone I have yet to speak to.

“Stranger,” I answer, suddenly feeling at ease.

I haven’t spoken to him in a week and a half, more so because I knew he’d convince me to come home when I knew I needed time to myself with Aiden. When things get too much and too overwhelming, that is my safe space, and I knew Damian would struggle with it, and not just because I’m pregnant.

He wants me close, and being in Hopeton was part of my problem especially when in two days, Aiden is turning four. Marking four years without my mother.

I knew it was selfish but I just needed that time and I felt good for it, until the shitshow with Trina happened anyhow.

“Well, it’s about fucking time, angel,” he grunts, and I smile as I switch off the lights in the bakery and head to the front door.

“I’m sorry,” I say, “I just needed time without interference. I wasn’t gone because of you or how I felt about us. I just needed to clear my head. The bakery, mom, the baby, and then Bethany, plus finals, it was a lot.”

He sighs, “I get it, Essy. Believe me, I do, but a text three days after disappearing is not okay. I would have been happy with a good night message every night.”

I smile slightly as I walk into the cold, dark night and reply, “But one text back from you, and I would have folded and come home because you are my home, Damian, and I needed the time away to get my head sorted. You weren’t willing to give any input regarding the baby and even after I texted, after you replied the urge to return was high because of how much I was missing you.”

“I know, baby, I just wish you’d messaged me sooner. No contact was fucking hard,” he mumbles, and I smile a little.

This man…

"I love you," I say, to which he responds, "I love you too, Angel."

“Can I come over so we can talk about everything?” I ask and chew my bottom lip, a little nervous he’ll say no despite knowing he won’t. My emotions can sometimes run a little wild when my head knows the truth, it’s very tiring battling with myself on a daily basis.

“If you’re not here in five minutes, I’m coming to get you. I let you have the three days to get situated, but no more,” he replies making everything settle inside me as butterflies swim and my heart flutters.

I smile and open my mouth to tell him that I’ll be there in three but instead I gasp, “Ouch,” as I’m suddenly shoved into the door of my bakery hard, my head bouncing off it and I blink, dizziness filling me.

“Essy?” I hear Damian shout as I drop my phone when a hand grips the back of my hair tightly and yanks hard, sending a shooting pain through my head as whoever grabbed me pulls my head back, and I scream, “Get off!” as I try to pull away from the person even as pain consumes me.

A cold chuckle washes over me, sending a dark shiver down my spine before I’m yanked back by my hair. I feel my body fall and as if happening in slow motion and knowing I can’t stop myself, I feel my feet lift underneath me as I fall. I land with a thump on the concrete, my head smacking it hard, and I cry out in pain and go to grab it, but before I can touch my head, a fist comes my way from the hooded figure, his knuckles hitting my eye and I scream, and dizziness takes hold and nausea consumes me.

Oh god, why…

I blink and blink again, trying to get my wits about me before I feel rough hands going to my jeans and panic hits, and I scream,“No,”while kicking out and swinging my fists, not allowing someone to rape me.

The person grunts when my foot hits their gut and stumbles back, and I scramble to move, but he’s on me instantly before I can twist, tearing my jeans and panties down, cold air rushing around me and panic hits.

I cry out and kick as I turn onto my stomach and try to get away while the person is busy throwing my jeans away and fear rushes through me, but the guy just chuckles some more, clearly liking my fight and grips my ankle before dragging me back. I land with a thump on my front as he pulls me hard and I cry out again as my stomach scrapes across the concrete. I scream again, tears blinding me and I struggle against the person who is so much stronger than me.

This can’t be happening, it can’t be happening.

I feel the guy’s weight on my back as he tries to spread my legs, but I fight against him, causing him to dig his nails into my thighs and drag them and immense pain hits me hard.

I cry out in pain, and without meaning to, I move my right leg up a little, hoping to give me the push I need to get away, but instead, it gives him what he wants.

One moment, I’m trying to fight, and the next, he shoves himself inside my dry entrance hard, and I scream as he tears my walls.

“No, please stop,” I plead through my tears as vomit builds before a roar sounds out around me, and I fight hard against the guy, thrashing my body to get him to remove himself from inside me.

He pulls out, then thrusts in again hard, and I scream a terrifying and painful scream as sharp pains hit my stomach, like bad period cramping, and the realization hits me hard.

The baby…

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