Page 52 of Giving In

I know at first, she was too heartbroken to be into anyone else, let alone love them. With time, people started saying that she would never find anyone after Aaron, that their love was too strong, and they praised her for that. Now, while she still loves my brother, she is too scared to make any move. Too scared she will be judged by the same people who praised her for staying faithful to a guy that was gone.

“Look, I gave youmyblessing. Shouldn’t that be enough?” I encourage her with a smile.

She giggles but a single tear rolls down her cheek. She quickly wipes it and smiles back at me.

“It’s not just that. I know what kind of guy Luke is. If I express interest, he’s going to want to have sex. And, well, it’s been a while. Like...three years while.”

I laugh at her loudly. “Come on, who cares? Just say you don’t want to have sex. He’s not going to jump you. Please, I want you to have fun. Luke is clearly interested. Show it back.”

She stops in front of my house. “Fine. I’ll jump him then.”

I laugh and hop out. “Have fun!”

“Have fun with Nathan,” she winks at me.

I wave and hurry inside my house. As soon as I’m alone the uneasy feeling creeps back into my stomach and I double lock the door. Is it possible that I’m not truly alone?

Like a crazy woman, I start searching the house. Behind the kitchen counter, in the tub, under my bed, and in my closet. While in my bedroom, I hide the burner phone in my underwear drawer.

Samuel will be waiting for Rose tonight, but Emily made me promise not to act on it and I know it would be too dangerous. Once Rose doesn’t show up, I’m sure I’ll hear more from Samuel.

I open mom’s room and look around there as well. Thank God I don’t live in a mansion the size of Emily’s or it would have taken me all weekend.

Once I’m sure there’s no one, I drop my bag by the door and my phone on the counter before slumping down on the sofa and turning the TV on. Friday, it’s time to binge-watch some crappyreality TV on Hulu.

I don’t feel at ease, but I don’t feel sick from fear anymore. Before I realize, my gaze stops focusing on the screen and my eyelids grow heavy.

My dad is on his knees. The hooded man grabs his Sheriff badge, spits on it, and throws it on the floor.

“You really thought you could stop us, Williams? You barely managed a dent in our budget. And unless you can pay that back. One of your kids is dying tonight.” His heavy Eastern European accent is thick in my ears.

“Breathe, ‘Me. Breathe please.”

My brother’s voice echoes in my head, but I can’t stop shaking. Am I holding my breath?

A shot rings and Aaron’s body falls on mine. Again, his limp body crushes my chest. I can’t breathe. I feel dizzy. I try to push him off but he’s too heavy, he’s holding onto me like he still wants to protect me from the man. My shoulder is burning, melting from hellish heat. My chest is too constricted for me to survive this.

Just another breath. It’s just a dream. Breathe.

Breathe!

I wake up trying to take a deep breath but it’s impossible. There’s a dark form on me, one big hand covering my mouth and nose. I’m still dreaming. I’m still in a nightmare. My eyes are darting everywhere trying to understand my surroundings. It’s dark, too dark to comprehend what’s happening but I know I’m on my sofa. I’m at home.

I start clawing at the hand and the shadow straddling me when a face lowers to mine. Deep, dark blue eyes shine in front of me and an evil smirk inches closer to my ear.

“Wakey wakey, little Angel.” Jake’s voice floods through my veins, colder than ice, bringing me back to reality. I’m not dreaming, I’m wide awake and he’s trying to kill me.

I try to scream and start twisting, kicking my legs, and pushing him but he doesn’t move. He straightens above me and chuckles.

“It’s fucking hilarious how weak you are. Like a tiny lamb fighting against a big. Bad. Wolf.”

My eyes flutter as I try to inhale any oxygen possible but it’s not enough. I feel dizzy and my vision gets dotted with black spots.

“Unless you want to pass out, I suggest you nod at my next suggestion. If I take my hand off, promise you won’t scream?”

I nod hard multiple times. I don’t have time to think, I just need to breathe. He withdraws his hand from my face, and I take a huge gasp of air. It takes me a minute or so to regain sense of myself and the situation.

When I grasp what is happening and understand he’s not getting off me I start trying to push him off. I push my hips up and down trying to throw him off and he starts laughing. I punch him in the chest as hard as I can, and he grabs my wrists.

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