Page 72 of 2204 Hunter Lane
He stood up but I extended five shaky fingers in front of me, creating a barrier of distance with whatever courage I could muster up.
He put his hands up and eased back down, cocking a grin my way.
“Your mom tipped me off, actually.”
In that moment, my entire world shattered at the seams. My mom never even liked Todd, and now she was suddenly buddy-buddy with him, sharing my location? How the hell did she even know I’d be here?Holy crap the P.I. THE FREAKING P.I.
I glanced around the room, finding no one but a crowd of drunk individuals head-banging to Mötley Crüe.
“Marley, I’ve tried calling you so many times. Not once did you care to talk to me.”
Fire filled my veins as I erupted into a volcano of seething fury. “You cheated on me, Todd! For months! With your fucking ex-girlfriend and you expect me to stay with you?”
He was too calm, too relaxed as he responded to my outburst. “No, but I expected you to hear me out.”
“You’re fucking insane, Todd.”
“Oh I’m insane?” This time, he got up, marching towards me with strong strides. “You dropped everything to be with a guy you don’t know, a guy who could’ve beat you and left you on the street with no where to turn. But I spent months providing for us like the good man I am. I was raised with integrity, you know that.”
Tears waterfalled down my cheeks as I stood cemented in place, unable to move, unable to react. All I could focus on were his eyes, his terrible eyes filled with torment and anger, anger fuelled for me.
“And what are you doing in this shit hole town? Huh? Still running away from your problems, Marley, like a lost little bit –”
The metallic taste of blood splattered onto my tongue as Hunter slammed his head down against the bar, punching him repeatedly.
It took me a few seconds to register what was happening when a horde of people made their way around Hunter and Todd, videoing the fight with excitement.
“Fuck him up, Hunter!” One person yelled.
“What the hell’s happening?” Another said.
Kenton jumped over the bar and attempted to break up the fight but it was no use. Hunter bodied Todd onto the ground, coming down on him with heavy throws.
“Stop!” I yelled, finally escaping the chains of my paralysis and wrapped my arms around Hunter’s shoulders. “Hunter, stop!”
His breathing was hoarse, sporadic, like an untamed lion who was ripping at its prey. Todd’s body was flayed onto the floor, his nose bent to the side, his face covered by thick gore.
I managed to pull Hunter back, shoving him away as I knelt to the ground beside Todd who coughed out a clot of blood.
“I need an ambulance!” I yelled, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck.
I didn’t like Todd, I didn’t love Todd, but he was still a human being who needed some fucking help. The entirety of his outfit was painted red, my hands were painted red…Everything was. Everything was coated in his blood.
“Oh my God,” I covered my mouth with blood soaked fingers as Hunter tried to leap out from behind me again, grabbing at his ankles.
I whipped around and shoved myself in between them. “Are you fucking crazy!”
Hunter had a dead look in his eyes, bloodshot and beady as he zeroed in on Todd’s limp body behind me.
“Look at me, fucking look at me!” I commanded, grabbing his face in my palms.
He did, but only because he had no choice. If the decision was his, he’d be on top of Todd killing him with broken glass, I could bet my life on it.
My hands trembled as I cupped his jaw, terrified at the look in his eyes when those crystal blue gems faded into a hollow pit.
“Move, Bambi.” He demanded, locking his jaw tight.
“Hunter –”
