I gasp. “You’re insane.”
Justice has this crazed look in his eyes, and I get the feeling I’m not the first girl he’s tried to hurt. I won’t be his next victim. I won’t let him hurt my baby. I scramble back on the bed as he undoes his jeans. The only thing on my night stand is my dog’s leash. I lay it out in the mornings when I take him on walks, but it was raining this morning, so he refused to go out. Justice drops onto the bed, coming at me with every intention of forcing himself on me. I can’t believe this is happening or that I ever let him touch me. That I ever considered him a nice guy.
I wait till he gets closer, then I roll to my side and hit the floor. I go to my feet as he grabs my arm, tackling me back down on the bed.
“I’ll make it good. Show you that you chose wrong.” He forces his mouth onto mine as he pins me down. I thrash against him. Using all my energy to punch, kick and scratch, at him.
I won’t let him get away with this. Even if he succeeds in raping me, I’ll make sure everyone knows what a monster he is. That Detective Justice Masters is a raping piece of shit.
“Am I the first?”
He laughs. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
“You killed her.”
“Who?”
“Mariah. You want it to look like Viking because you can’t stand the thought that he’s better than you.”
His fists rain down on my body as I try to shield my stomach.
“Please. I’m pregnant,” I sob as he tears at my clothes.
I shake my head back and forth as he continues to assault me. “I’ll rip his bastard straight out of your cunt.” He tries to get his hand between my legs, but I muster every ounce of strength I have and I headbutt him square in the face.
“Fuck,” he groans as stars dance before my eyes. I shake my head as blood spurts from his nose. I gotta get away. I have to run, or he’ll kill me. I get my bearings and pull at my torn leggings as I run for the stairs. I just don’t run fast enough because he hooks me around my throat with his forearm and I jerk forward. I elbow him in the ribs then grab him between the legs and squeeze as hard as I can.
“You fuckin’ bitch,” he screams planting his palm hard in the middle of my back giving me a shove. I stumble forward and try to grab the banister but it’s too late. I go toppling down the stairs with a heavy thud.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
“She’s coming to.”
I attempt to swallow, and my throat feels dry like sandpaper.
“Andrea,” a familiar soothing voice calls my name.
There’s something plugged in my nose. I blink and try to yank the tubes out. Moving my head side to side I struggle as hands pin my arms down.
“She could be having a reaction to the medication. It happens. Andrea, sweetie. If you can understand me its Naomi. You had a bad fall and needed surgery.”
I blink and rub at my eyes now that she’s released her grip on me.
“Where am I?” I glance around the room as my stomach tenses. “My baby.”
“Honey, just take it easy. I’ll let your boyfriend explain everything. Try to rest. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Viking,” I croak as the blurry version of Naomi disappears and is replaced by Justice.
I flinch and jerk at the sight of him. His eyes are bruised and there’s a bandage on his nose.
“Shh. Easy, babe. Don’t get yourself worked up. Can you give her something to calm her down? She probably needs more rest.”
A second later something burns through my veins and I’m out.
“There she is. Wake up. We need to talk and fast.”
I jerk and sit up in what I now realize is a hospital bed.
“Why are you in here?” I reach for the call button.
“Be smart about this.”
I stare at Justice as he comes into focus. I breathe in hard.
“What did you do to me?”
“Sweetheart, you’re lucky to be alive. I came over to see you and your dog went crazy and attacked you. Both of us. You tripped over him and fell down the stairs. I really don’t know how to tell you this, but they wanted to put him down, but I convinced them not to. With everything happening with you losing the baby, it didn’t seem fair. It would have been too cruel.”
Tears roll down my cheeks like heavy sheets of rain. All my brain focuses on is those words, ‘losing the baby.’
I clutch my stomach and Justice goes to move my hair from my face. “Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare fucking touch me.”
“I admit things got a little out of control.”
“You’re sick.”
“I don’t have a lot of time. Here’s what is going to happen. You’ll continue with this little charade we’ve got going only now you work for me. Whatever I want to know about the club. Your boyfriend, you’ll report it all back to me.”
“I’ll never do anything to help you. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone so I can grieve in peace.”
“You need time. I get that. Understand it even. I too once lost a child. Did I ever tell you about my wife?”
I shake my head and wipe at my cheeks, wanting him to say whatever it is he wants to so he can leave.