Page 118 of The Clover Chapel (Jamison Valley 2)
“No! Please don’t,” I begged. I bucked and rocked my hips, trying to get free, but I couldn’t get any leverage. My feet, covered with huge wool socks, couldn’t get friction against my sheets.
“Jinx,” the other man snapped. “Get the fuck off of her. Alarm tripped when you broke the glass, you stupid motherfucker. Cops will be here in a minute. Grab her and let’s get the fuck outta here.”
“You’re no fun, Wrecker,” Jinx said, then sat back on his knees, still pinning me to the bed with his hips but letting my arms go.
Then, in a flash, his hand came down, backhanding me across my cheek.
Pain exploded across my face as it whipped to the side. My hands flew to my face, clutching my cheek as the sharp sting spread from one side to the other. The white spots started to clear and I had just opened my eyes when Jinx’s hand came down again. This time his fist pummeled my ribs.
The air vanished from my lungs. Heave after heave, I struggled to suck in some oxygen as he laughed above me.
Jinx climbed off the bed, talking to Wrecker about my jewelry box, while I rolled to my side and clutched my stomach. Tears poured down my face as the pain intensified. I had never been hurt like this. I had no idea just how much physical pain one person could inflict upon another.
Then I was moving.
One second I was writhing in pain on my bed, the next I was being carried out of my house over Jinx’s shoulder.
“No! Help!” I screamed, kicking and punching at his back. The pain in my ribs and face got worse with every one of my movements but the adrenaline running through my blood was spurring me to fight.
The phone call must have been from my security company, meaning a deputy was on their way. Maybe if I could delay long enough, I would be rescued. But nothing I did slowed their escape.
Jinx carried me outside with haste. I squinted in the dark, hoping to see lights coming down my driveway, but all I saw was an upside-down black van.
The cold night air nipped at my bare legs but I didn’t let the chills stop my fight. I kept screaming and fighting. If I could squirm free, maybe I could run into the woods and hide.
“Let me go!” I wailed, using all of the energy I had to hit Jinx. But my struggle was in vain.
“Enough,” Wrecker shouted from my side.
I lifted up my head just in time to see his tattooed fist coming straight toward my temple.
And then everything was black.
Nick
This was the worst fucking week of my life.
I had royally fucked up with Emmy and left her. Again. The one thing she had asked me to do was stay, and instead, I’d run.
And why? Because she had been honest with me about our marriage? Because she felt differently about it than I did?
Of course she would want a fresh start. Our nine years apart had been spent thinking entirely different things.
I had thought she’d be happier and safer without me. I’d spent my time remembering her with longing. With love.
She had thought I’d abandoned her because she wasn’t good enough and that I didn’t care. She had spent nine years remembering me with pain. With hate.
I hadn’t even listened to her explanation. I’d been so enraged that I had shut her out and said cruel and unforgivable things.
I was a motherfucking asshole.
At least I’d kept my promise not to help Dad start an illegal fire. Even though I was in Clifton Forge, I’d made it clear I was here for Stone’s funeral and nothing more. Well, the funeral and to get smashed each night. Drunk was the only way I could deal with what I’d done to Emmy. What I was still doing to her.
Emmy had called these past few days but I had ignored the phone. Her voicemail messages had pleaded with me to ca
ll her back. Her texts were much the same. I longed for the sound of her voice but dreaded what she would say.
I didn’t want to hear her tell me that we were over.
