Page 22 of Somewhere Without You
“You cozied up to Max behind my back,” he spat, his voice venomous. “Parading around like I wouldn’t notice. Like I’m some kind of idiot.”
My heart pounded. “That’s not what happened.”
He let out a cold, humorless laugh. “Don’t lie to me. You think I didn’t see the way he looked at you? The way youlethim?”
“I didn’t let him do anything,” I said, my voice cracking. “Max was just concerned. That’s all. He asked me if I was okay, and that’s it.”
“Oh, so now he’s your therapist?” Jackson sneered. “What, you think flashing a sad little bruise is going to get you a sympathy pass?”
My stomach sank. “You’re twisting this.”
“Itrustedyou,” he hissed. “And you humiliated me.”
He stepped closer. I could smell the bitterness on his breath—rage and control simmering beneath the surface.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I whispered, backing away.
But that only made him angrier.
“You cost me a deal because you couldn’t keep your mouth shut—or your eyes to yourself.” His voice dropped lower. “Do you have any idea what that deal meant for us? Forme?”
The song playing on his speaker ended, and in that split second of silence, adrenaline surged through me. I shoved him backward with everything I had and darted toward the door.
I could hear him laughing behind me, a sick, twisted sound, like he thought this was some kind of game.
I didn’t look back as I ran, but my foot caught on the corner of his desk, and I crashed to the floor. Jackson’s hand clamped around my ankle, a vice-like grip, pulling me across the rug.
“Where do you think you’re going?”he taunted, his voice dripping with malice. He flipped me onto my back, his face looming above me.“Ifyou want to act like a fucking whore. . .”He grunted, his hand movingswiftlytoward his belt.“I’ll treat you like a fucking whore.”
An unsettling realization washed over me.
Hewasgoing to rape me.
“I fucked her youknow,”Jackson said, struggling with his belt.“Stanley’s wife.Thatcrazy bitchhadmy cock so far down her throat shewaschoking.”His breathwashot on my face as he knelt over me, the stench of Pappy’s filling my nostrils. Jackson took my face in his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze.“Would you like me to show you?”
“Please, don’t do this,”I pleaded, my voice trembling as I tried to pull away. His gripwasrelentless, his fingers digging into my cheeks like iron clamps.“I swear, Jackson, I didn’t do anything wrong. You have to believe me.”
A strangled breath escaped me, swallowed by the terrorthatwastightening around my chest. Hewasbigger, stronger, and Iwashelpless.
Jackson shifted, sitting back on his knees, his hands fumbling with the belt, struggling to free it from its prongs. Itwasstuck.
Thiswasmy chance.
I yanked my leg back, bracing myself, and kicked—hard, hitting him square in the chest. It didn’t knock him over, but it staggered him, giving mejustenough space to break free.
He gasped, a breath of pain and surprise escaping his mouth. I didn’t hesitate. I pushed myself up, ignoring the agony as shards of glass tore into the bottoms of my feet. Ihadtogetout,hadto reach the front door, scream for help, find someone—anyone.
ButI didn’t make it that far.
Jacksonwastoo fast.BeforeIcouldevengethalfway to the stairs, a sudden jolt of pain shot through my scalp. His fingers tangled in my hair, yanking me backward.
My head slammed against the wall with a sickening thud, and the world spun. His shadow loomed over me, his grip still firm, the belt now hanging loose in his hand.
I gazed up at him, blood soaking through my pajamas as tears carved streaks down my face.Butitwasn’tthe blood or the tearsthatconsumed me—itwasthe sickening crack of his belt against my skin. My body tensed, and a scream ripped through me, followed by another as the leather dug into my chest,thenmy arms as Idesperatelytried to shield myself.
Each strikewasa brutal reminder of my helplessness, the sound of the buckle slamming into my skin echoing down the empty hallway. The copperytasteof blood filled my mouth as my lip split open. I curled in on myself, but it didn’t matter. The pain kept coming.
“LOOKAT ME!”His voice shattered the air, and I archedinvoluntarilyas another blow landed, this time across my spine. “You fucking bitch,lookat me!” he shouted. “I’ve given you everything! A house, a car, a perfect life.Andthis is how you repay me?”
