Page 14 of Asphyxia
“You are going to stay right the fuck where you are, you piece of shit.” I snarled, picking up a scalpel as I approached where he sat on the edge of the examination bed. “You did this to her.”
“I didn’t do fuck all.”
“Then explain your knuckles and nail beds? Because those sure as shit don’t look like defensive wounds on your hands.”
He casually removed his hands from his jacket pockets and held them up, inspecting them as if he hadn’t seen the extent of the damage until now.
I was confident that if I pulled up his sleeves, I would find claw marks from his girlfriend all over his forearms, dried blood and all.
“So they don’t. But no one will take your word for it—an ED nurse who wasn't even there. The bitch deserved what she had coming to her.”
All I could hear was Adrian’s voice in my head—the degradation, the knife cut of his words all those years ago. This man was no better than him, and he needed to be put in his place.
“I don’t have time to deal with you right now in the manner you so rightfully deserve, but you can bet your sorry ass that I’ll make time tomorrow…” I spoke coolly before dropping the scalpel to the floor.
I pulled out a syringe filled with a sedative from my scrubs pocket—one that I had prepped earlier for another patient—and launched myself at him.
My jaw clenched tight as I put my full force into driving the needle into the side of his neck, pushing hard on the plunger as he attempted to fight me off once it was deep enough into his muscle.
This poor motherfucker has no idea what kind of monster he has just awakened.
Ihadahardday at work. Screaming, crying, and the endless beeps of machines were all I could hear as I struggled to pull on my plain black cocktail dress and slip into the matching strappy heels for the NorthStar Memorial Gala.
Adrian always loved an excuse to show me off, but I felt sick to my stomach and would have preferred to stay home instead.
I exited our bedroom and forced myself down the hall, finding it hard to look the part of the perfect, beaming Madison that I was always expected to be.
As I approached the foyer, I found Adrian waiting for me, standing tall and proud in his all-black Armani suit, complimented by a black silk tie. His hair was perfectly mussed with pomade, giving him his styled yet unkempt look.
Adrian was always gorgeous like this—a man who begged to be gawked at by every woman he passed.
“Madison.” He held his hand out to me with a look of concern in his deep green eyes. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?”
I wanted to cry—to break right here in front of him, not even giving a damn how weak it made me appear. I was tired—so fucking tired.
“Nothing… let’s just go.” I shook my head, avoiding eye contact. When I ignored his hand as I stumbled to step past him, he caught my arm and gripped my chin with his other hand. My eyes glistened with tears that I refused to shed as he angled my face to meet his.
“Go back to the bedroom and change.” He ordered, eyes dropping to my dress before flicking back to lock with mine.
“Let me guess, this dress isn’t good enough to be seen with you and your suit at the Gala?” I scoffed, rolling my eyes so hard my head spun.
“No. It’s not.” He growled, pulling me into him. “Go change into a pair of my sweatpants and a T-shirt. We’re not going—not when my love looks like this.” His gaze softened as he searched my eyes and dragged his thumb along my cheek.
“But I—”
“You have done more than enough today, sweetheart. Let me take care of you.” He assured me, pressing a tender kiss to my forehead before gesturing to the hallway. “Go. Change.” I didn’t fight or argue with him this time.
When I returned from our bedroom wearing his sweatpants and a loose white T-shirt, I found Adrian already lounging on the couch. He had already removed his coat, and had his shirt unbuttoned halfway, with the silk tie undone and lazily draped over his shoulders.
Adrianheld out his hand, his eyes never leaving mine as I approached where he was sitting, and he pulled me down between his legs, wrapping himself around me—affectionately.
“Don’t even for a second think that I would put anyone or anything else above you, Madison.” He murmured into my hair as he buried his face into the crook of my neck. “You’re my everything.”
Adrian made it so hard not to love him—so I did.
IletmyselfintoMarcus’s apartment—by casually picking the lock on his door.
Okay… so I broke into his apartment.
