Page 72 of To Ignite a Dragon's Desire

My smile was so fake it hurt. “I’ll have to talk to Ember, but I broke my phone. Maybe we can both head over there and ask what she thinks.”

Drew puffed out his deflated chest. “I knew you’d come around.”

“You make a good argument.” I nodded. “I’m going to get out of the tub now, if that’s okay.”

“Oh, yeah. Yes. Come on out.” He took a step back. “Sorry about putting you in there. It seemed like the safest place to keep you propped up so you didn’t choke. You know how much I worry about you.”

He held out his hand, wearing the same apologetic grin I’d seen a hundred times before—usually, while I was nursing a bruised arm or brushing the knots from my hair after it’d gotten tangled on his fist.

“I sure do.” I blew out a steadying breath, making sure I was as clearheaded as I could be and giving him my left hand while I stepped onto the tub ledge.

“You’ll see.” Drew started pulling me towards him. That calculating gleam shone in his eyes despite his playful tone, “I’ll make you regret ever wanting to leave me.”

“Ha.” I laughed.

His eyes widened as I yanked my hand free.

“Ha. Ha.” I grabbed the shower curtain tension rod from overhead.

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” I screamed as I shoved it against his jugular, pushing him backward with all my strength.

Drew’s hands flew into the air.

We slammed against the tiled wall.

I pinned him there with the bar against his throat.

He smacked at me.

I held tighter, gritting my teeth and ignoring the pain of his hits.

I was so much stronger than I used to be. My muscles were trained and strengthened from weeks of testing Lucan’s patience.

Drew’s fat belly shuddered between us. His unshaven face bulged purple and red as he tried, and failed, to get his feet straight underneath him.

I pressed tighter as his arms weakened and the fight started to drain out.

“Not so tough anymore,” I cried.

My rage boiled over, filling the small bathroom. It was thick enough to drown us both.

“But you never were strong,” I continued to scream. “You were the weak one. Pathetic. What kind of a little bitch hurts someone smaller than them?”

He went limp and still I held onto the bar.

Tears streamed down my face. “I’m strong. You’re nothing. And you won’t hurt me again.”

My arms started to shake from holding up his weight. I dropped the bar, taking a step back as his heavy body slumped to the floor.

Spit ran down his chin.

I wiped the tears from my face.

Oh, shit. What did I do?

I knew I should check his pulse and make sure he wasn’t dead.

Or maybe make sure that he is…

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