Page 98 of Bound By Temptation

33

INDIE

EIGHT YEARS PRIOR

Love?What was it? After having Ax Monroe in my life, I didn’t know what it consisted of.

But this… I knew it didn’t consist of freaky rhyming letters.

Dating an older man, I’d thought it would cut through all the male bullshit, but I was very wrong.

Jacob said he loved me. Said we were meant for each other. Even asked me to marry him, which was strange considering we’d only been dating a year.

I’d been brushing off the letters. He hadn’t approached me, and I could deal with a few notes.

Except, this one was a bit more possessive. Quite frankly, it scared me. I didn’t want to be scared in my own apartment.

The police. I needed to take all the letters and show them. Maybe get a restraining order, or they would go and tell him to leave me alone.

My cell rang, and Meadow’s name popped up. I answered it. “Hey.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked, instantly hearing something in my voice that alarmed her.

“Another note. But this one is … it’s just off. I don’t feel right about it.”

“I want you to call the police. Right now. Do you hear me?” she ordered.

“I am. Love you. Let me call the police, and I’ll call you back.” I’d hung up the phone and went to dial 9-1-1 when the door opened as if the person on the other side had a key. No one had my key but me and my landlord.

Jacob stood on the other side, and I rushed to the door and tried to shut it, but didn’t make it. He’d already gotten in and closed the door.

He punched me in the face, and the force of the blow knocked me to the ground. Pain radiated in my face, my hand going to it.

“You stupid bitch. Seriously. You think you can just dump me and go on with your life? Fuck that.” Jacob spit at me as his foot came into contact with my ribs several times.

I cried out in pain. “Please, Jacob. I’m sorry. Really sorry.” Tears fell freely.

“Oh, you’ll fucking be sorry,” he growled. He gripped the back of my hair hard and yanked me to my feet. Sounds tore out of my throat that I’d never heard before.

My leg hit something hard, and I lost my balance, his hand holding my hair the only thing keeping me from falling to the ground.

“You cunt,” Jacob sneered and tossed me to the couch. He jumped on top of me and beat the hell out of me. Each punch and kick were intended to break my bones. I knew it.

Knew this man was going to kill me.

Everything inside of me hurt. Everything. There wasn’t an inch of flesh that didn’t ache excruciatingly. There had to be ribs broken my sides hurt so bad. At least he achieved what he wanted.

My heart hurt, and I called out for Ax. Why in that moment, I didn’t know, but I wanted him … here with me. To get this man off of me.

He wasn’t going to come in on some white horse. If I wanted to live, I’d need to protect my damn self.

Jacob pulled out a pocketknife and opened it. “Now let’s carve up your face so no one will ever want your whore ass.”

If I’d thought it was bad before, this was going to be worse. A damn papercut hurt me. A knife?

It would just mingle in with all the other pain.

No.

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