Page 68 of Chains
Autumn pushed the door open, then slammed it and hurriedly bolted it. For extra measure, she dragged one of the kitchen chairs over and secured the back of it under the doorknob. With a pounding heart, Autumn pressed her ear against the door.
Nothing.
A small breath of relief escaped through her bloodied lips.
Cinder stood next to her, the cat’s copper eyes glued to the door and tail thumping against the floor.
“It’s okay, honey,” Autumn whispered. “He’s gone now.”
Bang!
“Shit!” Autumn’s hand flew to her chest as she jumped back.
“Open this fucking door or I’m going to break it down!”
“I’m calling 9-1-1.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” he said, pounding on the door again.
“I already called Chains. He’s on his way over.” Faster than a speeding bullet, she fished out her phone from the tote.
“Fucking bitch! I never should’ve touched you!”
Autumn heard crashing and commotion in the garage, and she suspected Bret was destroying the place.
Then, it was quiet.
In the distance, the low rumble of an engine penetrated the silence.
She stood by the door and waited for a long time, then sank to the ground and sobbed. Cinder rushed over to Autumn and nuzzled against her. She grabbed the cat and held her close.
After what seemed like hours, Autumn pushed up from the floor and walked around the house, checking all the locks on the windows and doors. Her head pounded and her face was on fire. She trudged up the stairs and went into the bathroom, then gasped when she saw herself in the mirror: a swollen face dotted with angry red marks, a bruising eye, and dried blood at the corner of her mouth.
“I can’t believe this.” She turned on the faucet and started to clean the blood from her battered face. No man had ever struck her before, and this certainly was the first time Bret had hit her. It was still unbelievable. He’d never exhibited any violent behavior during their relationship.What the hell happened tonight? He was like a different person.
After Autumn had taken care of herself and changed into a fleece nightshirt, she curled up on the couch and stared at the fire. Cinder snuggled in her lap after having been fed, and the images of the beating kept flashing through Autumn’s mind.What if he comes back? What if he’s watching and sees that the cops or Chains haven’t come yet?A shudder of fear crept up her back. Without thinking, she tapped in Chains’s number.
“Hey.” His deep voice soothed and caressed her.
“Hi. I’m sorry to bother you—”
“Don’t ever apologize for calling me.”
She pressed her lips together, then winced as pain shot through her. Debating on whether to tell him about Bret, she simply said, “I’ve got the jitters tonight.”
“You want me to come over?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I’m on my way—hang tight.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m always there for you, baby.”
Tears trickled down Autumn’s cheeks as she put the phone on the coffee table. How could Chains be so selfless and kind, and Bret—so selfish and cruel?How could they come from the same parents?
The warm fire made the house toasty and cozy, and knowing Chains was on his way gave her a sense of security. Before Autumn knew it, her eyes had closed and she drifted off to sleep.
