Breaking Beast (Pounding Hearts 4)

So much for hoping he was just bluffing.

“Travis,” I say calmly, trying my best not to freak out. “Please give me the box. You know those are all I have left of my mom.”

Travis’ eyebrows twitch and a smug grin lights up his face. “What are you going to give me for it if I do?”

Beside me, Muffin sniffs the air, eyeing Travis warily.

I resist the urge to jump forward and try to wrestle the box away, telling him instead that, “You’ll have my eternal gratitude.”

His smug smile turns into an outright smirk and his eyes gleam. “You know that’s not going to fucking fly. You know I want more than that from you.”

“Why?” I ask desperately. “Why do you want anything from me?”

He takes a step forward and I sense Muffin tensing beside me. “Because I love you.”

I shake my head in denial and he takes another step forward.

“Stop,” I say but he keeps coming.

“I love you, Christy,” he says, stopping right in front of me. “You belong to me.”

“I don’t love you, Travis. Not in that way…”

His face darkens and his eyes narrow. “You will,” he says angrily and reaches out, grabbing me. “If you stop fucking running away.”

I shake my head as he pulls me closer. “I’ll never love you like that. You’ll always be like a brother to me.”

His fingers tighten around my neck, pinching me painfully. “I’m not your fucking brother.”

“Please, stop,” I plead. “I don’t want to hurt you…”

Even after everything he’s done to me, I don’t want to hurt him. I just want him to let me be.

He pulls me closer until the box of pictures between us is digging into my stomach. “You’re mine, Christy.” He snarls. “Mine, and I’m not letting you get away again.”

Reaching up, I push at his chest, holding him away from me. “Please Travis, please stop this. I’ll never love you, I’m already in love with somebody—“

“I fucking knew it!” he exclaims, cutting me off. “I fucking knew, you little whore.”

He shoves me away from him and as I stumble back, catching my balance, Muffin growls a warning.

As if he finally realizes she’s here, Travis glances towards Muffin and asks, “Where did the mutt come from?”

My pulse is racing so fast I feel sick to my stomach but I’m done with the lies. I’m done with trying to placate him.

It’s never worked, anyway.

“She belongs to the guy I’m seeing,” I say.

A flush of red creeps up Travis’ neck and for whatever reason I notice his veins are bulging before he jumps me.

The box of pictures falls to the floor at our feet as he shoves me against the wall. “What’s his fucking name?” he screams in my face. “What’s his fucking name? I’ll kill him.”

My head snaps back, the back connecting with the wall painfully. He grabs me by the hair, pulling, ripping. “Did he fucking touch you?! Did you fuck him?!”

I don’t even get a chance to answer him before he’s crying out and jumping away.

“Fucking bitch!” he screams and then kicks Muffin off of his leg.

Muffin lets out a high pitched yelp of pain and something snaps inside of me.

“Don’t you fucking hurt her,” I scream and shove him away.

He stumbles back, but it’s not enough for me.

As he stares at me in shocked surprise, I lash out, punching him in the face. My fist just misses his chin, connecting with his left cheek instead. His head snaps back, and he takes one step backwards before crumbling to the floor.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to knock him out this time. The dog-kicking-bastard is still awake.

“Christy,” he groans, grabbing the side of his face.

Breathing too quickly, I’m on the verge of hyperventilating as dots dance before my eyes. I stare at Travis as he sits on the floor, cradling his face, for a moment before it dawns on me that this my chance to escape.

Eyes darting around frantically, I spot my box on the floor and pick it up quickly. Travis starts to get to his feet and I want to cry at the thought of leaving all the spilled pictures behind.

“Christy,” he groans again. “Don’t—“

“Fuck you, Travis,” I spit out at him angrily, on the verge of tears. I didn’t want it to come to this, I didn’t. “If you come after me again, I’ll fucking kill you.”

Muffin walks up to me and noses my leg, reminding me we need to get out of here before things get even more crazy.

“Baby, I know you’re angry, but don’t run away,” he pleads.

Fuck, he just doesn’t get it. He’s too damn insane.

I give him a look of disgust and then turn away. Walking quickly to the door, I hear him groaning as he straightens to his feet.

Opening the front door, I step out with Muffin keeping up beside me. Glancing back quickly, I see Travis limping to catch up with us.