Page 192 of Chandelier Enthralled
Chad tucked the notebook into his jacket pocket.
A shiver of dread crawled up my spine as I strained to listen, my heart hammering in my chest.
Then we heard heavy footsteps entering Dean’s bedroom.
“We have to go,” Chad whispered.
I gave a frantic nod, feeling nauseated, that greasy burger threatening to spill.
“Is it clear?” he whispered, moving around me so he could go first.
We bolted along the hallway and across the living room and made it to the door. I reached for my handbag and swept it up. Chad made sure I was out the door first.
Once in the hallway outside the apartment, I turned and saw that Chad wasn’t behind me.
I ran back inside—and the air left my lungs. A heavily built man was striking Chad. After knocking him to the floor, he knelt on Chad’s chest and wrapped his hands around his neck.
Oh, God.
The man was strangling him, his knuckles white with quiet rage as he squeezed the life out of Chad.
I grabbed the barstool and swung it high, bringing it down on the man’s head with a crack. He rolled off Chad and slumped over, seemingly dazed.
I reached for Chad’s hand and helped him to his feet, both of us stumbling toward the door. He was so heavy and unstable.
Our attacker slowly got to his feet.
I tried to shove Chad out the open door.
From behind, my hair was grabbed and yanked. I was being dragged down as I twisted, trying to break free.
The man slammed my head against the hard floor and pain tore through me, making me see stars, my world spinning. I was unable to move, caught in a suffocating web of fear.
I heard the men scuffling, both vying for control.
I tried to push up, tried to get to Chad, but my legs were too wobbly, my heart thundering in my ears. “Stop it!”
In the small space, books and other objects were scattering and crashing as the combatants fought.
Chad lunged with a wide swing, while the other man sidestepped him, pivoting sideways and planting a sharp elbow into his opponent’s ribs.
Chad let out a grunt and I heard his labored breathing. The other man was relentless, but Chad was still on his feet.
My handbag was so close, my phone within reach.
The man shoved his shoulder into Chad’s chest, pushing him hard against the wall with a thud. They struggled frantically, aiming for vulnerable spots. Both hit the floor, rolling and grappling for dominance. As the fight wore on, fatigue set in, their movements slow but retaining a brutal desperation. The monster gained the upper hand, pinning his arm across Chad’s throat, pressing down with all his weight.
Chad’s face turned blue, his lips open, eyes wide with terror.
I crawled toward Chad, trying to make eye contact so he knew I wouldn’t let this happen to him.
The man suddenly paused, trying to speak, but was unable to. Blood spread across his shirt and I saw a knife protruding from his chest.
The scream that rang out was mine.
Choking, Chad shoved the man off and crawled away from him, weakly reaching out for me and then fumbling in his pocket as though checking for the notebook. His eyes widened as he glanced back at what he had done.
His victim’s flesh had turned pale, pure terror flashing across the man’s face as he gasped for air. He blinked rapidly, then stilled.
