Page 82 of The Love Syllabus

I sigh and turn to Vic. “Are you ready?”

“Hell yeah. Let’s go home.”

Cory’s smirk vanishes, and he straightens up in his seat.

“Home?” His voice is low and controlled, but there’s something off in the way he says it. “So, it’s true. Y’all are living together?”

An eerie silence settles over the table.

Then, he sneers. “Tell me, Vic… does Kerry still like it rough? Only I know how to touch her the way she likes.” He winks, knowing good and well the only touch he knows comes in black and blue.

One second Vic is sitting, and the next, he’s towering over Cory. His jaw is clenched tight. His fists are flexing at his sides. And his eyes are murderous.

“Don’t.” He warns Cory.

“What?” he shrugs, casually taunting. “She’ll always be mine, you know. Only I know how to touch her the way she likes.” He winks, knowing good and well the only touch he knows comes in black and blue.

I press a firm hand against his chest. “Vic. No.”

Cory’s grin widens. “Listen to your girlfriend, Vic. ‘Cause one phone call to my father, or my uncle,orcousin, will land you in jail. Isn’t that right, my little jailbird, Kerry?”

Krista, eyes wide with panic, grips Cory’s arm. “Stop it, Cory. Just walk me to my car, will you?”

Cory doesn’t move right away. His eyes lock onto mine, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of my gaze, so he finally lets Krista drag him away.

I touch Vic’s arm, grounding him. “Let’s go.”

He nods, jaw tight. “I got the bill.”

As he flags the waiter over, I reach for my bag and realize I left my phone in the bathroom.

“Damn it.”

Vic turns to me, still watching the door Cory and Krista disappeared through. “What?”

“My phone. I left it in the bathroom.”

“Alright. I gotta hit the restroom real quick, anyway. Meet you in a sec.”

My heels click against the tile as I go to the sink to grab my phone from where I left it beside the soap dispenser.

“Oh, dear wife, I’ve been waiting for the chance to get you alone again.”

Cory’s voice slithers through the air, sending a chill down my spine. My heart hammers through my chest, but before I can even process the nightmare unfolding, he locks the door behind him and clamps his hand over my mouth My heart pounds as I whip around, only to watch him calmly lock the door behind him.

Before I can even form a scream, his hand clamps over my mouth.

“Shh,” Cory coos. “I’m not gonna hurt you, Kerry. I’d never hurt you like you hurt me.”

His grip tightens, and my whole body goes rigid as he leans in with his hot and sour breath.

“Parading that piece of shit around town,” he sneers, jaw clenching. “Tryin’ to get me all riled up?” His fingers press bruises into my skin. “You’re making it so damn hard to get over you. I put up with your shit for twenty fucking years only for you to throw it back in my face?! You let him touch you everywhere, don’t you? You let him touch what’s mine? Why do you do this to me, baby?”

I’m terrified. However, I’ve fought back before, and I’m sure as hell gonna fight back again. With every ounce of strength in me, I fight. I lunge forward and sink my teeth into the web of his hand, biting until I taste blood.

He yells, pulling back, and I don’t hesitate. I raise my heel and drive it down into his foot with everything I’ve got.

He stumbles with a curse. His grip loosens.

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