Page 51 of Saving Tracey
I shook my head, my knee coming up and slamming into his balls. He groaned, falling to the ground, clutching his prized jewels. "Not this time."
I took off running for the other end of the alley. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. I had to get awayfrom here. There had to be some way to get back to Trevor's, or at least to Miss Brinson's.
I wouldn't let him hurt me again.
My converse slapped loudly against the pavement as I ran down the sidewalk for all I was worth. My chest was heaving, desperate for some air, but I didn't care. I had to get the fuck away from here.
I knew he was running after me, but I didn't care. I would run until I physically couldn't run anymore.
I collided with a tall body, and we fell to the ground with the force I had knocked into him with. The guy groaned as I rolled over off of him, the wind momentarily knocked out of me. He sat up, looking down at me. "Girl, you don't belong here.” He reached down to help me up. “What in the hell are you doing on the south side?"
I ignored him and his hand as I scrambled off the ground. My body was aching and screaming in protest, but I couldn't stop.
I wouldn't let him hurt me again.
"Hey, hey,” the guy tried soothing me, reaching out and grabbing my arm when I turned to continue running. I flinched, yanking myself away from him, my chest heaving from panic and from the exertion of running. "Are you okay?"
No. I felt like I was going to have a panic attack.
I had to fucking run.
"Get the fuck over here, you stupid fucking bitch!" I heard my dad roar through heavy breaths.
“I—I have to go," I muttered, turning to run away again, but the stupid idiot grabbed my arm again.
"Is that man bothering you?" His dark eyes were intent on my own, anger beginning to swirl in their depths.
My eyes snapped over to my dad's figure pounding down the sidewalk, getting closer and closer to me. If this guy didn't let me go, I was going to lose.
I couldn't let him hurt me again.
"Let me go,” I snarled through clenched teeth.
The stranger shoved me behind his body right as my dad came to a stop in front of him, his breathing labored. "Boy, I would appreciate it if you would give my daughter to me—right now."
I whimpered, a tear leaking out of my eye.This was it.
He was going to hurt me again.
"Sir, I'd advise you to turn around and go the fuck home. I promise, if you bother this pretty young lady right here ever again, you'll wish you'd never had."
My dad met my eyes over the guy's shoulder. "This," he said, gesturing between me and him, "is not over."
I gulped, fear trickling down my spine. My dad stalked away, and only when the guy was sure he wouldn't be turning back around did he turn to face me.
"You alright?" The anger was now gone from his eyes, only holding concern.
I rubbed my head, suddenly feeling light-headed when it began pounding. "I don't feel so good," I muttered.
I collapsed against him as everything went dark.
TREVOR
I snatched my phone up from my nightstand when I saw Gabriel's number come across the screen. He never called me unless it was extremely important, and though I was still waiting on a call from Tracey, something in my gut told me to answer it.
I had met Gabriel back when I was twelve, a year before child services took me from my parents. He took me under his wing, teaching me how to defend myself.
I hadn't heard from him in a couple of years.
