Page 29 of Irrevocably Mine

It was temptingto stop by the cell store and pick up another phone on the way home from Dax’s, but, Stacy couldn’t justify dropping five hundred dollars on a new phone when John would return tomorrow night ish with hers. As much as she wanted to be connected, it was kind of nice to be unplugged. If it were work and urgent, she would see the alert on her laptop, so no big deal to live without it for twenty-four hours or so. She was starting to think of it as a vacation. The thing that did bother her was not having it if Dax called. But surely, he would get her message and show up as soon as he was free. It was still a mystery where he was, though. Usually someone knew, but it seemed like he had disappeared.

As much as it nagged at her, she wasn’t worried about him, per se. Dax was capable and strong; he must be just in a place where he can’t get in touch with anyone. It wasn’t like him to be inconsiderate. Of course, he might not have been. He could have been in touch with any number of their friends, but short of them driving to her house or her to theirs, there was no way to inform her.

For a moment, Hank entered her mind, but she banished him rather quickly. There was no way in hell a worm like Hank could have hurt a giant like Dax. Besides, someone would have known if that had happened. Again, she remembered that Hank was a follower, not a leader. He wouldn’t dare go after Dax—her, maybe, Dax, never. Hank didn’t have the balls.

When she got home, a healthy dose of fear prompted her to be extra cautious. Maybe it was dwelling on Hank or being without a phone, but either way, she locked the doors immediately, double-checked the windows and unlocked her gun drawer. Carrying the weapon around on her hip might make her feel better.

It’s not there.

Stacy rifled through everything in the drawer and no gun. It was impossible. It had to be there, she moved it aside last night to give John the parole notice. Where else could it…

A voice that formed ice shards in her bloodstream answered her unspoken question, “Looking for this, sweetheart?”

Hank.

Straightening to her full five-foot-four height in her heeled boots, she stiffened her spine. She didn’t want to turn around and look the man in the eyes, but she needed to, so she did it slowly.

When their eyes collided, something shifted inside of her—something feral and a long time in the making. He was swinging her gun from his index finger. Stacy took a step in his direction, and he quickly pointed the gun at her.My own fucking gun. “Now, now, sweetheart, you just plant that pretty ass of yours on the bed and don’t move. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will, if you make me.”

Stacy’s defiant streak awakened from a too-long slumber. Roused by his empty threats and attempt to control her, yet again, she crossed her arms over her chest and adopted an air of superiority. Hank didn’t need to know she crossed her arms because of him. She wasn’t wearing her fake tit and, somehow, his words still stung after all this time. “Oh yeah, you and what army? Do you even know how to use that thing? For more than a club, I mean?”

Hank rushed her, grabbing her by the throat and pressing the gun against her forehead. This was not the same Hank she knew. This one was unstable, at best, and violent. And he was apparently willing to get his hands dirty now. The fear that had crept into her at hearing his voice now enveloped her. She was unsure how to deal with him like this. He was a wild card.A wild card with my only means of protection. She lowered herself to the bed, choking on his hand all the way down.

“That’s more like it, babe.” His hand moved from her neck to caress her cheek. The soft touch was in direct juxtaposition to the barrel still buried in her forehead. A bruise was already forming, she was sure of it. Her throat worked overtime, swallowing bile to keep from puking. Stacy complied, but couldn’t bring herself to play his game. Her eyes saw what was happening, but her brain didn’t comprehend it fast enough to pull away.

Hanks lips crushed hers, teeth colliding. The barrel’s assault lessened for the first time, but she was under no illusion he couldn’t still shoot her anytime he wanted. Still in shock from his kiss, Stacy didn’t fight back.That was a mistake.

By the time her brain caught up to real time, and forced her hands into action, she was already on her back with Hank on top of her, grinding into her hip like there was no tomorrow, groping her good breast with no finesse, the same as his tongue entering her mouth, sloppily. It was like by rote to him, he damn sure wasn’t doing it to turn her on, but rather to prepare himself. That thought chilled her to the bone. When his hand shifted to the other side—the one he never touched—he slowed his assault, allowing her to push his upper body away enough to end the disgusting kiss.

She felt the gun tap her temple almost gently as he spoke, “Why were you out like this?” Hank squeezed her flat side. “You know no man wants to see that. But then again, you haven’t stuck with any man since me, have you, sweetheart?” He swooped in for a quick, controlling kiss, not allowing her to answer. “Miss me that much, do you?” She felt his hand tracking south toward her too-short skirt and tried to buck him off. “Ooo, eager beaver, are we? Of course, you miss this dick. You never could get enough. Well, babe, I can fix that right now, just tell me how much you want it, and it’s yours.” Hank punctuated every statement with a roll of his hips and a nauseating moan.

“Want you? Want…you? I’d rather masturbate with a chainsaw that ever let you touch me again.”Wrong thing to say, Stacy.That realization came a moment too late as he pushed up from her using the hand at her chest, holding his body weight up on it alone and effectively forcing the air from her and not allowing any more to enter to replace it. The gun was back to being buried in her forehead, leaving yet another bruise. Good thing she was growing her hair out and would have the bangs to cover them.

“Really? If I were in your position, I would consider being nicer to the man that holds your life in his hands. But then again, you never were any good in the bedroom, maybe I should have met you in the living room to see if you wouldn’t be such a bitch out there.” A maniacal laugh cut through the air, and Stacy knew she was in trouble. He was bat crap fucking crazy, and that would be impossible to reason with, even with her skill. Stacy had no choice but to play along, biding her time and waiting for an opportunity to get a weapon and fight back. But she refused to be intimate with him in any way, even to save herself. Rapidly going through the catalogue of their relationship, she hit on the perfect way to stall that part of his plan, at least.

“Hank,” she tried to say an endearment, but it locked in her throat, “I’m sorry, but you know how bitchy I get when it’s that time for me.” Stacy looked pointedly at her crotch and back into the eyes of a mad man. When Hank finally realized what she was talking about, he made a sound of disgust and scrambled off her so fast, he almost ended up on his ass.

“Gross, you should’ve warned me.”Yeah, sure. Next time you’re about to rape me, I’ll make sure to give you full disclosure. Asshole.“Well, sincethatwill have to wait a few days, assuming your cycle is still short?” Denial was poised on her lips, but his expression told her it was best to appease him. Besides, she didn’t need a few days, just a little time to think.

“Of course, they are. You always did know me so well.”Not well enough to know it’s not even close to time, douchebag.Even that small intimacy cost her a piece of her soul, but she knew it was best to go along. At least now there was no way he would touch her sexually, the rest she could handle.

It worked, a little too well. Hank approached her once more and caressed her cheek in an almost loving manner. “Of course, I know you, I’ve done absolutely nothing but think about you every single minute I was caged like an animal. If it weren’t so filthy and wrong, I’d take you anyway. But…where are your handcuffs, darling? I know you still have them, you couldn’t live without them. I always hated that side of you, but it will come in handy…for now.” And just like that, the crazy Hank took over fake “loving” Hank, and the gun was in her face. “Where are they?”

“You don’t need them, Hank. Where am I going to go? The nearest neighbor is across the street at an angle, you saw that, I’m sure. By the time I got there in these heels, it’d be too late.”

“I’m not stupid, bitch, you could make a call before I could stop you. Wh…”

Stacy was pissed now. He changed directions so fast, she was getting whiplash. She’d had a shitty day and she needed Dax. “Did you see me come in with a phone, genius? Did you see one anywhere in the house? I’m sure you searched high and low waiting on me. I don’t have a landline and my stupid brother accidentally took my phone with him last time he was here. Go ahead and look around if you don’t believe me, but why bother. You know I understand the position I’m in, or do you think I got that stupid since you went away?”

“You mean since you put me away. You broke my heart, you know that?”

Stacy bit her tongue so hard it bled. She wanted to tell him she wasn’t responsible for his actions and it wasn’t her who had done any of the breaking.Shedidn’t break his heart or trust.Shedidn’t break into his house. The look in his eyes held her silent. She knew the truth and that is what mattered, you can’t get through to crazy, so why try.

“The fact remains, you are in charge and have complete control without restraints.”

His ego properly stroked, he backed off and forgot about manual restraints. Of course, his alternative wasn’t much better.

Unexpectedly, he forced a pill down her throat and held her nose until she swallowed. She silently prayed it wouldn’t kill her, but with this Hank, she wasn’t sure what he was capable of. Her fear must’ve been apparent.

---