Page 106 of Shelter from the Storm

In the past, she would have apologized, said she was sorry a thousand times so he would stop hurting her. She could see now all that did was prove to him that he was right, and she was wrong. He took those apologies as justification for punishing her.

He released her hair and arm, and she felt a split second of relief—until both hands wrapped around her throat.

“You’re a worthless whore,” he spat in her face, as he started to squeeze.

No.

No.

No more.

“Fuck you!” she gasped, before he completely closed her airways.

She was done cowering, finished being this man’s victim.

So she did what she should have done all those years. She fought back—hard.

She slapped at his head, dragged her nails down her cheeks, then hit him with the big gun.

Briggs’s hands fell away the moment her knee slammed into his balls. It was a direct—perfect—hit.

He staggered back in pain, and probably shock, bending at the waist and covering his crotch while coughing. He turned a sickly shade of green and for a moment, she thought he was going to get sick.

“Fuck! Fuck,” he groaned.

Gretchen didn’t wait around to watch him suffer. Instead, she flew to the side door of the barn, bursting free, intent on running as fast as her feet could carry her.

She was instantly stopped when she ran into someone. Still in flight mode, she screamed as strong arms wrapped around her, terrified Briggs had brought someone with him.

“Shh. Gretchen! It’s me!” Theo said. “It’s me.” Theo was panting, red-faced and out of breath, a sure sign he’d sprinted all the way here from the brewhouse.

“Theo!” Tears sprung to her eyes as she sagged in his arms.

“You’re okay,” he soothed her, as the barn door slammed open and Briggs limped out, furious.

He pulled up short when he saw Theo standing there, scowling when he gently pushed Gretchen behind him, placing himself between her and her tormentor.

“She’s leaving with me,” Briggs said, his tone gruff, pained. “She said so.”

Theo shook his head. “Gretchen’s not going anywhere. I told you before if you came back here, I’d have you arrested for trespassing.”

“She’s coming with me!” Briggs shouted, fists clenched. “This has gone on long enough. Get in the car, Gretchen, and no one gets hurt.”

Theo took a step forward, clearly not agreeing that no one was getting hurt, but Gretchen grasped his arm, shifting to his side.

“I’m not coming with you, Briggs. This is over. Leave. Now. If you ever come near me again?—”

Briggs roared with anger. “Get. In. The. Fucking. Car!” He stepped toward them, fists clenched.

He didn’t get within five feet of her before Theo reacted, lunging forward and throwing a hard punch that knocked Briggs’s head back, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Briggs grunted in pain, then tried to rise. He was so drunk and dazed—from her kick and Theo’s punch—that all it took was one shove of Theo’s foot against his shoulder to send him back to his ass.

“If you know what’s best for you, you’ll stay down,” Theo threatened.

For a moment, she thought Briggs wouldn’t listen…but then his shoulders sagged, and he bowed his head, beaten.

“How did you know I was in danger?” she asked Theo, certain there was no way her emergency call could have connected before Briggs smashed her phone.

---