Page 27

My arms turned weak, the chilly wind smacking me forward, against the door. My body trembled as I hugged myself, my vision blurring.

“Open…” I trailed off, my throat tight as I rocked back and forth on my heels. “Open—Antonio!” I tried to scream, but my knees buckled under me. “Door…” my eyes rolled back and my body collapsed.

* * *

I awoke in my bed. My warm bed. Layered clothing, tucked in all snug.

I yawned, rolling onto my back as I stared up at the ceiling unblinking. He just locked me out in the cold until I passed out.

I lifted myself, sitting upright before looking around. The house was quiet. My curtains weren’t drawn. I glanced at my bedside clock and it glowed 19:47. I’ll kill him.

I yanked the blankets off and got up. I stripped off every layer until I was left in my sweatpants and a long sleeve t-shirt. Fighting in a million layers sounded like hell.

I tied my hair back into a ponytail as I headed for the door. My first stop was the kitchen and I grabbed the longest and sharpest knife I could find.

I headed back upstairs in search of him but his bedroom, office, and the gym were all empty. I hurried out back but he wasn’t there either.

With growing frustration I made my way back downstairs, scouring the house for him before I ended up in the empty living room.

His opened laptop sat on the coffee table with an empty glass beside it. Debonaire by Dope was playing softly on the radio and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. Did I just miss him?

His cars were all parked, so he had to be somewhere in the house.

Something hard and metallic pushed against the back of my head. “Drop the knife.”

My eyes fell shut for the briefest moment and I tightened my grip on the knife before letting it go. The sound echoed through the living room and he stepped so close I could feel his cologne hanging in the air around me.

As soon as the muzzle left the back of my head my elbow shot back into his nose before I turned around, sending him stumbling sideways with a roundhouse kick.

Blood splurged from his mouth as his head swerved left and he gripped the edge of the couch to balance himself, his gun flying across the room.

He grabbed the vase, launching it at me and I ducked, turning away from him. Before I could run he gripped a handful of my hair and yanked me back. My legs gave in beneath me and I fell to the floor, finding him on top of me as he pinned me down, gripping my wrists above my head as I writhed beneath him.

“Tsk tsk tsk.” He applied pressure to my wrists.

I headbutted him and as soon as his grip slackened I pulled my hands free and pushed him back, straddling him.

I threw a punch before he grabbed my arms, flipping us over and I reached forward, pulling him into a headlock.

He fought against my hold, rising to his feet with both hands gripping the back of my thighs as he ran me into the wall.

I groaned, my head snapping back against the wall as my legs around his waist fell, my arms draping at my sides.

His hands pushed my shoulders back, and still on wobbly legs I kneed him between his thighs. He groaned, letting me go entirely as he stumbled back.

With my head still spinning I lunged for him, tackling him into the wooden coffee table and it collapsed under our weight.

In a short struggle he was on top of me, holding me down and the glint of my knife caught my eye in my peripheral vision. Without breaking eye contact I grabbed it, stabbing it into his side and his body went rigid on top of me.

Preparing my legs, I kicked him off of me and he landed with a thud on his back, groaning in pain.

Before I could move his large hand gripped my ankle, yanking me towards him and the pressure forced my head back, knocking against the hard tiles. Fuck.

My vision blurred for a moment, the pain pulsing in my head.

“Oh…”

With heaving chests our heads whipped left to see Amelia slowly entering the living room with wide eyes as her handbag slowly slid down her arm and to the floor. Her unbelieving eyes trailed around the destroyed living room.