Page 60 of Hard To Stay

“I’m sorry that I got physical with you. I’m a changed man now. I would never do that to you again.”

I blinked. Did he really believe the shit that was coming out of his mouth? I shook my head defiantly, already knowing the answer. He distorted the facts in order to convince himself of his own lies.

“It doesn’t matter.” I shook my head, keeping my eyes shut tight. “I can’t forget. You’ve hurt me too much.”

“Are you talking about Laney?” He asked sounding annoyed. “I was only with her because she reminded me so much of you. You were shutting me out. Denying me what was mine. I just wanted to feel close to you again. I used her. It meant nothing to me. You’re all I ever wanted.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You fucked my sister to feel closer to me?”

He was losing his patience. I could see it written all over his face. He was putting on a good show, but I knew what was behind the mask. It was the person who liked to control and manipulate.

He gritted his teeth trying to hide the rage that brewed inside him. “Please don’t swear, Alexis, you’re better than that.”

My mouth hung open, searching for words. “After everything I just said, that’s what you’re focusing on. My fucking swearing?”

He drew in a calculated breath and pulled his lips into a firm line. “Please, stop this nonsense. You don’t belong here.” He glanced around my apartment in disgust. “You belong with me. I’ve allowed you to have your fun, now it’s time to come home.” I took a step back as his eyes narrowed at me dangerously.

My heart raced. I could smell his familiar cologne. I used to love the way he smelled until I started to associate that smell with the night he forced himself on me. I grew sick as he trailed his hands along my jawline. I didn’t want him to touch me. His lips started to trail kisses down my neck, ignoring my whimpers. I was reliving the nightmare of that night all over again. Why couldn’t I get my body to move?

“Please,” I begged, feeling the hot tears sting my eyes.

The smell of his breath on my skin turned my stomach. How could someone who looked so beautiful on the outside be so ugly on the inside? “Don’t fight this, Alexis, let me show you how much I love you. Let me remind you how good we are together.”

I closed my eyes. God, why couldn’t I make him stop? My body was numb, and I tried real hard to muster up the strength I needed to get away from him. His hands slid down my arms, causing my stomach to churn. “I’ve missed you so much.” He dragged his lips down my neck and across my shoulder. “I’m going to make you forget all about him.”

“No!” I shouted, trying to push him off of me, but it was no use. He was too strong.

He yanked my wrist. I felt his fingers dig into my flesh. “Please don’t fight me, baby. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Stop! Please… just stop!” I pleaded, as his nails continued to dig into my skin.

Just then, the door to my apartment flew open. Brad’s eyes scanned the room and landed on me. I felt a flood of relief flow through me. He was here. He came back for me.

Before I could register what was happening. Brad rushed in, grabbing Colton by the shirt and threw him up against the wall. I watched as Brad reached his arm back and repeatedly landed punch after punch to Colton’s face. I heard the sick sound of flesh striking flesh as Colton’s arms dropped uselessly to his sides. Brad frantically landed blow after blow and I watched as Colton made no attempt to defend himself. Colton knew how to land a punch; I knew that for a fact. So why wasn’t he fighting back?

“Brad, stop! That’s enough.” I screamed, through hiccupped sobs. I staggered across the room and held his arm back, but not before he landed one last punch to Colton’s mouth. Colton just slid down the wall, blood poured from his split lip and what was almost certainly a broken nose. He was a bloody mess. His eyes were swollen shut like a boxer in the 12th round of a prize fight. I sensed something was off, but I was too frantic to give it much thought.

Brad took a cautious step in my direction, reaching his arms out to me. “Are you okay?” He asked, whispering into my hair. I felt his hands caress along my back

The words were stuck in my throat, but I managed to get them out. “Thank you.” I said, against his chest as he held me close and gently stroked my hair.

He pulled back and looked at my face. He tenderly lifted my chin up to make sure I was indeed okay. I could still feel his body shake with adrenaline. “You’re sure you’re okay?

I’d never been more relieved in my life. I didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if he hadn’t shown up. All I wanted to do was wrap myself in his arms where I felt safe. I was so damned scared, and judging by the way he searched my face for an answer, he was just as upset as I was.

“Brad, I’m fine.” My gaze drifted to where Colton laid passed out on my floor, a bloody mess. Brad hissed out a breath and pulled out his phone. I watched him punch some numbers on the screen before he brought it to his ear.

“Get the fuck to Lexi’s apartment now! And bring your cuffs.” He shouted, and ended the call.

He stood back and ran his hands through his hair while looking around the room. Colton’s swollen eye popped open. Brad stormed across the room and picked him up by the shirt, dragging him to the bathroom. He pushed him inside where I heard Colton’s head land with a thud.

“Don’t fucking move until the cops get here.” He shouted, slamming the door. He walked to my desk, and dragged the chair across the room, placing the back under the knob to keep him locked in.

My body was still trembling. I couldn’t get my brain to form a coherent sentence. What the hell just happened?

While we waited for Sawyer and Lucas, he took advantage of our time alone and silently inspected every inch of visible flesh. His eyes dropped to where Colton had grabbed me. There was a purplish-blue mark, along with a red cut along my wrist.

“It’s okay. I’m okay.” I tried to reassure him, but a look of rage remained on his face. I wanted to lean in and kiss away all his worries, but I still wasn’t sure what was going on between us. We hadn’t really talked about what happened at the club, and I was grateful that we had an excuse to not talk about it.

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