"Get away from me," I whisper. "Don't ever come near me again."
"Why not? You were so very willing to let any fucking man out there have your pussy." Davis' demeanor changes in in instant. The creases in his forehead deepen, and out of nowhere, he throws his glass against the wall, making me flinch. "Any fucking man, Willa. I couldn't believe it. You wouldn't let me fuck you. You resisted me. And now you're selling that sweet pussy to anyone who wants it?"
I'm so afraid, I don't dare say a word in response. I just stand there, trembling as he approaches me and wraps his meaty arms around me.
"Stop running from me, Willa. You know we were meant to be."
He tries to press his sloppy lips against mine, but I turn my head to the side, repulsed by his presence. This only makes him angrier, though.
I’m helpless in his grip as he lifts me from the ground and forces me over the rail, holding me there with my torso dangling over the street below.
"No!" I shriek. "Let me go!"
"Might want to rethink those words, sweet thing," he laughs in my ear. "Unless you want to meet your end right here and right now?"
I shake my head wildly, tears already falling from my face. "Please put me down."
Finally, he does. I pull away from him and grab a shard of the broken glass from the floor. It cuts into my skin, but I pay the trickle of blood down my palm no mind as I wave my makeshift weapon at Davis, "You come one step closer and I'll cut the shit out of you!"
"Sure, sweet thing." He laughs at me again, not taking me seriously at all. The prick takes a step forward and I throw myself at him like a banshee, stabbing the glass into his lip and making him reel back and curse out loud as blood spurts from the wound. "Crazy fucking bitch! What the fuck is wrong with you?"
With adrenaline pumping, I spin round and race to the elevator. He’s cussing out every fuck as he stumbles after me, blood dripping through his fingers. I'm still gripping the shard of glass and I have every intention of sticking it in his eye if he tries anything else.
With bloody fingers, I hit the elevator button, and almost scream with relief when the doors immediately open. I get in, repeatedly hitting the ground floor button. Davis disappears out of view as the doors close, the gruesome injury that's split his mouth open replaying in my mind like some fucked up shot out of a revenge porn.
I get out in the lobby, ignoring the fact that I'm spattered in blood and trembling as I run into the street. There are two cops nearby, so I blend into the evening crowd and try to steady my breath as I start walking somewhere, anywhere.
I become a girl that belongs among everybody else. A girl with a boring family background, with no drama surrounding her, a girl who can blend right in. My heartrate slows down, and I force myself to relax. I try to push Davis out of my mind, telling myself he'll never try to come for me again. Not now that I've finally shown him just what I'm capable of.
I will kill the bastard if he ever lays a finger on me again.
I still can't believe the fucked-up game he played to get me caught in his web. But I'm not going to fall for it ever again. From now, I'm going to trust only Raphael, and I'll never meet anyone else from the app. It's not safe. Not with monsters like my stepfather walking on the streets.
My thoughts circle back to Raphael, and I realize I've been circling the area that his office building is in.
I've been avoiding it for over a week, seeing him. But suddenly I have the strong desire to walk right into that office and take my feminine power back into my hands.
I'll never let an abuser like Davis touch me again.
And I'll forget the abuse I suffered because of him. Raphael will help me with that. I know he will.
I check my phone and find several unanswered calls from Dove and Nox. Biting my lower lip, I push a shaky hand through my hair. Fuck, are they getting suspicious? Did they figure out I snuck out?
Either way, there's nothing I can do now. I can either enjoy my night or go back home to the punishment I'll undoubtedly receive – and I'm certainly not looking forward to the latter.
I realize I’ve walked right up to Raphael’s office building.
The temptation to go up there is strong, but I know I look like a mess. I’m covered in bloodstains, my hand is still bleeding, and I look like a mess. But I need to be comforted, and I know neither Nox nor Dove can give me what I need. So, I take a deep breath and buzz through to Raphael’s office.