Page 12 of The Chief
I frowned, that didn’t sound like Keir. It sounded like…
Stepping forward, I peered through the peephole and found Grady on my doorstep. Shit, shit,shit!How had he found out where I lived? Jesus. Fuck. He must’ve seen me running through town and followed me. Maybe if I didn’t make any more noise, he’d leave? Maybe he’d think he’d misheard and go? Ah, who was I kidding, Grady was like a dog with a bone.
“I can see your shadow under the door, Molly. Let me in or I’ll break your goddamned door down.”
I would’ve liked to have seen him try. Breaking down the door would only draw attention, and he was not the type of man who wanted people to notice him.
“You want to play hard to get? Fine!” he snarled.
Through the peephole, I watched as he retreated a step, then raised his leg. I jumped back as the door shook from the force of his strike and the hinges whined in protest. The locks held, but as he continued his assault, all I could do was watch the woodaround the hinges split and splinter. Then a crack appeared in the center of the door, growing bigger and bigger with each strike of his boot.
Panic clawed at me, but I shoved down those useless feelings and emotions, clearing my mind to figure out how to escape. It was mid-morning, so everyone on my floor was in class, at work, or studying. I was alone so nobody would hear my screams. They would only see the aftermath and my bloody dead body when they returned home.
I’d survived this long. There was no way in hell I was going to end up dead because of this fucking bastard.
Turning quietly, I darted to the small window behind my couch and wrenched open the sash. The wheels inside the mechanism protested the movement, but using my shoulder, I leveraged it up far enough I could get my whole body out. Peering over the sill, I saw the escape stairs twisting down to the ground floor. This was my only chance, but I’d never been good with heights.
My stomach soured at the thought of climbing out there. I’d have to force myself down those steps while pushing down my feelings of panic. It would be a tough feat, but I could do it if it meant not facing Grady’s wrath.
The sound of splintering wood gave me the shove I needed to move, but then a strong hand wrenched me away from the window by the back of my hoodie. I screamed, my fingers scrambling for the sill, fighting to pull myself away. Unfortunately, Grady was quicker and shoved the muzzle of a gun against the back of my skull; exactly like Keir had done only twenty minutes ago. If I made it out of here, I would have a hell of a headache.
With nothing more than a twitch of his arm, Grady threw me onto the couch.
I bounced once, twice, before he was on me.
His large hand wrapped around my throat, as he pressed his face close to mine. Grady’s eyes were bloodshot, like he hadn’t slept, and his breath smelled of coffee and rage. He brought the gun up, showing it to me again. “Going somewhere, Molly?”
I bared my teeth. “Fuck you. I did what you asked of me. I delivered the message.”
“Mol, I’ll never be done with you. I let you go once, but you’re mine.”
I realized then I would never be free of him. This man knew my darkest secrets, and in turn, I knew his. He would never let me go, not until my heart stopped beating and all the breath had left my lungs. Maybe he still wouldn’t let me go even then.
With his hand now wrapped around my biceps, he hauled me from the couch. “Baby, it’s time for me to get reacquainted with that cunt of yours.”
“No,” I whispered, my eyes flaring in panic.
His smile turned vicious as he shoved me toward the bed. I landed face-first, and before I could turn to face him once more, he was on me, shoving the skirt of my dress up, and my panties down.
“No!” I shouted, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. “No.”
“Yes, Molly. I know you’ve probably been sharing your cunt with other men since you left me, but I’m willing to bet nobody claimed your arse so I’ll take that.”
Grady’s fingers dug painfully into the globes of my ass, making me suck in a sharp breath.
“No.” The word was plaintive. Small. And fell completely on deaf ears.
The sound of his zipper being drawn down sounded like gunshots, and my pulse kicked like a horse against my throat. I tried to buck him off me, but my earlier struggle with Keir had left me drained. I wasn’t built for shoving large men twice my weight and three times my size off me two times in one day.
With horrifying clarity, I realized I was built to be a victim.
A victim of violence.
A victim of men.
And now, I would be a victim of crime.
The tears flowed faster as Grady pulled my ass cheeks apart, searching for the hole he wanted to claim. That he was determined to ruin. Something warm hit the top of my cheeks, and I flinched. Then his finger was there. Pushing. Prodding. Stretching.
