Page 102 of Craving Danger

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” Todd sneers.

“Leave me alone!” I shriek.

My breaths explode over my lips, and my heart hammers in my chest as he forces his way into my apartment.

“Why did you run from me, Sam?” Todd asks, his tone that of a deranged man.

Letting go of the door, I spin around and make a run for the fire escape.

The cane wacks me against the side of my head, and I fall over the side of the couch and plow into a side table. The vase with roses falls with me, and as the glass shatters, my palm lands on it.

The broken glass stabs into my hand, and I let out a cry from the sharp pain.

“Now look what you’ve done!” he chastises me as if I’m a petulant child.

The shock of seeing Todd and having him attack me shudders through my soul, but my body is in flight or fight mode, and I dart back to my feet.

Knowing I won’t be able to open the window before Todd gets to me, I rush to the kitchen so I can grab a knife.

“You know we’re meant to be together,” Todd shouts behind me.

As I reach for the drawer where I keep my cutlery, the cane hits my back, and I slam into the table.

The wooden legs of the chairs and table screech across the floor as they move. The pans hanging from a rack mounted to the ceiling sway, and one falls, knocking against my left shoulder.

Before I can catch my balance, I’m shoved to the floor. I manage to turn around, and as Todd climbs on me, I fight with all my strength.

I slap and claw at him.

My breaths burst in hot puffs over my dry lips.

My heart hammers against my ribs.

My eyes are frozen in horror on the man who’s destroyed me once before.

He wraps his hands around my throat, and as he squeezes hard, he shouts, “Look what you’ve done to me! Because you ran, I had to go after you. I totaled my car because of you. I spent ten months in the hospital because of you.”

He leans so close to me I can smell his breath, and his voice is shaking with rage as he says, “Look. What. You’ve. Done. To. Me.”

He tightens his fingers around my neck as if he’s trying to crush my windpipe, and I gasp for air.

Todd leans closer, and as I see the deranged look in his eyes, he whispers, “Shhh…shhh… we’ll be together soon, Sam. Shhhhh…”

I’ve heard your life flashes in front of your eyes in your final moments, but as I’m being strangled, I see my future.

Franco kissing me.

Us making love.

Dad walking me down the aisle.

Franco putting his ring on my finger.

Holding our baby.

A strength born from my will to survive courses through my veins, and I slam my fists against Todd. Realizing it’s not helping, I frantically search the floor around me for the pan.

My vision goes spotty, and my lungs scream for air.

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