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Fear freezes me as Frank rounds the table, rushing forward and grasping my shoulders in a punishing grip. The pain forces me into action, and I attempt to pull away, but he just tightens his fingers until I whimper.
“How could you do this, you fucking cunt?” he screams, spittle spewing from his mouth to splatter across my face. His face is so red that it’s almost purple and veins are standing out in his neck. The rage in the room overwhelms me; it isn’t usually this bad. He grabs a picture, thrusting it so close to my face that I can barely see it.
“I… I don’t know what it is,” I try to squeak out. He pulls it back, and my eyes zero in on it. The image is from a week or two ago of Theo playing in a field with my dad. They’re tossing a ball back and forth.
“Admit it,” he snarls, slamming the picture into my chest. Genuine confusion fills me. Why the hell is he so pissed off?
“Why are you mad?” I gasp, reaching forward to soothe him. He slaps my hand away, and the sting makes my eyes tear as I pull it back, cupping it against me.
“Why are you mad? Why are you mad?” He mocks, pacing away and tearing the image in two, hurling both sides down to the ground. “Because I bought him that fucking glove. I deserve to be the one to teach him how to play baseball.”
Panic steals my breath as he backs me against the wall, pinning me there before grabbing my face roughly. My eyes slam closed, trying to shield me from the inevitable while waiting for the first strike.
“I’m sorry,” I say, not feeling apologetic but wanting to calm him just the same. It works, and he lets go, giving me some breathing room. He stalks back and forth, a lion ready to attack at the slightest movement.
“You’re sorry?” he snaps. “That’s not good enough. This ends today. No seeing your parents. You know they’re trying to poison Theo against me.”
No more spending time with my parents? This arrogant fucking prick. They love Theo more than he ever will. When we’re at their house, Theo’s happy, and not afraid. Fuck this bullshit. He can’t stop me from visiting them. From letting them love my child. He’s angry, but so am I.
My self-control snaps as bitter regret fills my mouth. I’ve tried to appease him, to make him happy. But nothing is ever good enough. It’s utterly ridiculous that something so simple has thrown him into this kind of rage. Emotion whirls within me, along with the desire to fight back. To lash out.
This is too damn much.
Where did he even get those pictures? The skin on the back of my neck prickles in warning. Danger. Danger. But I ignore it.
I’m done. Be brave. Clearing my throat, I push away from the wall, heading for the glossy marble counter where the divorce papers are calling to me like a beacon.
“Actually, I think there’s another option. Neither of us has been happy for a long time, Frank,” I say, tugging the folder out of my bag and turning to present it to him. “I think it’s time for us to consider ending this.”
As soon as I say it, I wish I could swallow the words back down my throat. Are you stupid, Arden? He’s going to fucking kill you. Fear slithers through my veins. My hand holding the folder begins to shake, and I go to hide it behind my back—but it’s already too late.
“What the fuck are you going on about?” he asks, his voice calm, although his pulse pounds at his temple, and his eye twitches when he spies the blue folder. Snatching the papers away, he flips through them and hurls them across the room. Mistake. This was a huge mistake. Warning bells scream in my head, but it’s way too late. Frank pounces, grabbing me by the throat before slamming my back into the counter. All the air hisses from my lungs as pain radiates up my spine. But he’s not done, nowhere near it. Agony erupts across my face as a slap lands, and he reigns blow after blow before pulling his gun from the holster at his side. The steel whispers out of the case, so quiet and lethal.
My blood runs cold.
“W-w-what are you doing?” I whimper when he slides it down my cheek, giving me a light tap with the muzzle. My blood whooshes in my ears as my world narrows down to just the feel of the steel barrel kissing my skin. As my heart races, I am struck by the strangely smooth and cool sensation of it. The world blurs, narrowing until all I can think of is my baby.
Tears pour down my face. He’s going to kill me, and Theo’ll grow up constantly terrorized by this monster.
“I’m sorry. So sorry,” I blubber, willing to do anything to stay in this world. “I’ll tell my parents we won’t be seeing them anymore.” The promise is bitter on my tongue, but I’ll dance with the devil all by myself to save Theo.
“You’re such a fucking bitch,” he growls, sliding it back up to press it at my temple. The sound of the safety disengaging has me sobbing harder than ever. Cries rack my body, and I shake in his grasp. “But you’re my bitch, and there’s no way I’m letting you go anywhere.”
What have I unleashed?
Chapter One
One Year Later
Dirt clings to my face, sweat rolling down my back in the late afternoon sun as I tighten my grip on the long lunge line in my hand. My shirt soaks through, and I want to wipe my face, but I don’t dare. If I lose focus for even a second, this grumpy horse is going to charge me…again.
“Come on, Prince. Get up,” I say, clicking my tongue and whirling a piece of the thick rope behind him; trying to get the stubborn gelding moving into a canter. His ears flatten at the sound and he snaps at the lead, trying to grab it with his teeth. Dammit.
His shiny white coat stands out against his black mane and tail—there’s no doubt he’s a stunner. Too bad his personality doesn’t match his looks.
Twisting my wrist, I crack the rope behind him, which sends him crow-hopping around the pen. His eyes lock on me, the bane of his existence, and he snorts hard before rushing straight at me. His hooves drum steadily on the ground—thundering as he races my way—and I swear I can see flames shooting from his nostrils. Silly demon horse. Guess he wants to play a game of chicken.
Behind me, Blue paces back and forth, the ground crunching under his paws while he follows the fence line; he’s nervous, and it sends a trickle of worry zipping through me.
