Page 86 of The Devil's Tattoo
You know when people tell you afterward that things happened in slow motion? That they could see everything happening before their eyes in tiny bite-sized chunks of time but could do nothing to stop it? That’s exactly what happened right then. Jason’s fist hurtled toward me, and I couldn’t get out of the way. When it connected with my left cheekbone, I felt nothing. It wassurreal.
And just as suddenly, I fell to the ground on my side with a surprised gasp. I clutched my face, sharp stabbing pain beginning to throb throughmyskin.
“Zoe!”
I glanced up, my eyes wide, and I saw him. Will was stalking toward us, his gaze flickering from me to Jason, and I swore he was going to snap and launch himself headfirst into afight.
“Stop,” I said and peeled myself from thegutter.
He didn’t hear me and pushed Jason hard in the chest. “What the hell, man? Beating up on awoman.”
“Who the hell are you?” Jason scoffed, pushing him back. “What’s it to you? Mind your ownbusiness.”
“I love her, and if you lay another finger on her, I swear to God I’ll kill youmyself.”
I scrambled to my feet and pushed between them. “Stopit.”
“He hit you,” Will said thinly, the anger in his voice raw. He stared at Jason, not taking his eyes off him for asecond.
I ignored him and turned back to Jason. “Once a hitter, always ahitter.”
Jason was seething, and I knew I’d struck a nerve. Was this the reason this Deb was divorcing him? Had he shown his true colors to her,aswell?
“You fell,” he said. “How many times do I have to explain it to you?” Was he so delusional that he convinced himself his lies were thetruth?
I let out a snort of disbelief. “God, you even believe your own lies. Does it help you sleep at night? Knowing that you broke your girlfriend’s arm and lied to everyone about it? Knowing you destroyedmylife?”
Will’s voice was dangerously low. “He’s hit youbefore?”
I nodded, not taking my eyes off the man who ruinedmylife.
Will gently pulled me aside and stepped up into Jason’s face, looking like he was about to beat the hell out of him. One thing I knew was that I wouldn’t let anyone fight my battles for me anymore. I wouldn’t be a victimagain.
I saw Will’s hands ball into fists, his knuckles white with tension, but before he did something he would regret, I stepped forward and punched Jason in theface.Hard.
He stumbled back a step, hands on his face, and Will stared at me with wide-eyedsurprise.
“Bitch,” Jason spat, his hands clutchinghisface.
“I hope that hurt,” I said, pointing a finger at him. “If you ever come near me again, I’ll rip your balls off and feed themtoyou.”
I was so wild with anger that when Dee suddenly appeared behind me, I almost turned around and hit him as well. The security guard from the venue had followed, hopefully at Dee’srequest.
“Whoa, Zo,” he said, holding my shoulders. “Settle down. It’sonlyme.”
“Dee?” I asked,blinkinghard.
My hand suddenly began to throb, and my face matched its pace. I remembered this feeling. That day, after the paramedics had picked me up off the ground, they said that my body had gone into shock. I was pretty sure that’s what was happening right now. My strong demeanor crumbled, and tears began to fall even though I tried hard to keep them in. I didn’t want Jason to see me cry. I didn’t want Will to,either.
I didn’t understand what was happening when Dee eased me into Will’s arms. I could only watch as my best friend hit Jason hard in the face, putting him flat on his back. He got what he deserved, but I couldn’t feelanything.
Dee hauled Jason off the ground and shoved him against the wall. “You’re not going anywhere. Will, call the cops.” Shoving Jason hard again, he spat, “You’re not getting away with it this time, youhearme?”
“I’ve got it, mate,” the security guard said in a deep rumbling voice as he frowned at Dee, but he didn’t mention anything about the perfectly aimed punch that Jason had just received into his left eye. He had a phone in his hand and dialedtriplezero.
Will guided me around the corner so I didn’t have to look at them, but he could have taken me anywhere right then, and I wouldn’t have fought. I buried my face into his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent, trying to shut out everything. His hands rubbed my back soothingly, and right then, I didn’thatehim.
“It’s going to be okay,” he murmured into my hair, and I hoped he wasright.
