Page 93 of In The Dark
Hunter.
The only way I get out of here is by fighting, and I need to prepare myself for what could happen in this struggle.
Injury.
Severe pain.
Torture.
All are better than the alternative, and I let out a slow exhale.
One second at a time.
“Why are you doing this?” I croak. “I was nothing but good to you.”
“I told you. Your boyfriend is poking into places he shouldn’t be poking.” Brian positions himself over me, his large body caging me in, and checks the security of my wrists with a grin. “You can blame him.”
“We’re not even really together. I said that to make you jealous,” I blurt, running with the only idea in my head.Distraction. Diversion. Anything to stay alive. Brian freezes for a fraction of a second, and I wonder if I might be able to get out of here unharmed. “It’s just sex. That’s it. Nothing important.”
“It’s too late. He’s invested and digging up things from my past. The only way I walk away from this is if I kill him. And I will to keep my secrets safe.”
“What secrets?” I cry out. “Who the hell are you?”
“Since you’re not surviving tonight, I’ll tell you. Seeing people’s reactions is one of my favorite parts. My name isn’t Brian. It’s Connor.”
“Connor is a nice name. Is Brian your middle name?” A tear rolls down my cheek and sticks to the tip of my nose. “I could’ve called you Connor.”
“I go by Brian because women I’ve dated have been hellbent on ruining my life. Filing false claims against me. Saying I pushed them around and hurt them. Is it against the law if theydeserveit? Fucking whores who spend my money,” he snarls. “Who claim they like me, then two weeks later, move onto something ‘better.’ I always give them a black eye as a parting gift. The arrests are worth it to keep them in their place. I’d kill them if I thought I could get away with it.” His eyes drag over to me. “But you. You Icanget away with. A boyfriend whothreatened me? It’s the perfect setup. An easy plant. This will behisfault. And no one else will know.”
“Br—Connor. Just let me go. I can bring him to you. I canhelpyou,” I beg. “I promise.”
“Shut up, bitch,” he yells, surprising me by slapping me across the face. My cheek stings, a burning pain slicing through me, and I can’t hold back my wail. “From now on, you’re only going to talk when I give you permission to.”
“Please. Whatever you’re going to do to me, just do it.” I sniff, looking at him straight on. His gaze is soulless, blank. Devoid of any human emotion, and I know he’s beyond help. My fate is sealed. The grave is dug. I have to accept and bear it. “Don’t make me wait.”
“I want to do a lot of things to you.” He reaches down. Yanks my skirt up to my waist, and I squeeze my eyes shut. If I don’t look, it’s not really happening. I can pretend it’s a nightmare. Something I’m watching from above, not actively a part of. “And I know what’s going to hurt him the most. Torturing him before killing him is going to be so much fun, and touching what’s his is the perfect way to do that.”
I should’ve told Hunter where I was going.
I should’ve shared my location or not trusted someone so blindly, and both of us might die because of it.
How fuckingstupidof me.
There’s now time to wallow. Not when Connor is running his hand up my leg. Leaning in close, his mouth on my neck, and moaning when he touches my underwear.
It’s now or never.
This is my chance.
When he pauses to undo his belt buckle, I draw my leg back. I open one eye so I can see my target, ramming my knee into his stomach as hard as I can.
“Fucking bitch,” he spits out on impact, keeling over. When he tries to reach for me again, I flail my lower body, aiming my feet wherever I can land a blow: his ribs. His shoulder when he tries to grab my ankles. I don’t stop moving, but Connor launches himself at me. He forces me into the mattress, rendering me useless with his bodyweight, and I know this is it. “Stay fucking still,” he whispers, and my shoulders shake with a sob. “Cry all you want. Struggling makes it more fun.”
I take a deep breath, letting my mind disappear to anywhere but here.
I wonder what Skyler is doing. Would she notice I was gone? Would she assume I’m spending time with Hunter and not think to ask him where I am? Fright Nights has to have started by now. She won’t have time to check her phone.
And Hunter.
