Page 46 of Lose to Win: Lost Trilogy: Part 3
“If you ever,” Steve spits at me as soon as I get inside, “and I do meanever, walk away from me like that again and I can’t find you, I’ll make sure you regret it later.”
His hand is wrapped around my throat, and he is slamming my head lightly into the wall behind me. It doesn’t hurt, but it is enough to scare the life out of me. He looks unhinged.
“Do you understand?”
I jump in distress when his face gets closer to mine. “Yes.”
He lets go of me with another push that makes me wish I could just slide down to the floor, my arms crossing protectively over my growing belly.
“If you think you can just make a fool out of me with your fuck boy, you can think again,” he laughs. “Now strip.”
The command is so sudden, for a second, I’m not sure I heard him right.
“What do you mean?” My voice sounds small and weak. I am scared to death of this man. This is a side of him I never witnessed while we were together.
“You got naked for him,” she shrugs. “It’s only fair I get the same treatment. We are engaged to be married after all.”
“We are not…” Oh my god, he doesn’t know I am married to Puck now.
“Just because we never made an official announcement, Emily,” he throws his head back and cackles, “it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. But it figures that you’re too stupid to understand that.”
I remain by the wall, my mind going into a million directions at the same time. I wonder if I have time to run to the door, then outside. Maybe a neighbor could help me. Call the police…
“Strip and get your fat ass into the bedroom. I am not going to say it twice.”
The tears springing from my eyes are so sudden, they shock me.
“No,” I tell him, my voice hiccupping right at the end of it.
“No?” he laughs. “You say it as if you have a choice, Emily.”
He gets close to me again, and I try to shrink into the wall as much as possible. The adrenaline is making my entire body shake now. Tears are running down my face, and what I’m sure is snot is now reaching the top of my upper lip.
The more Steve is staring at me, the harder I’m shaking, until my breathing is coming out hard and heavy. I can’t believe he was able to take me out of dad’s house without triggering any sort of alarms.
I get startled when, seemingly out of nowhere, Steve is pressing an inhaler to my lips. All my senses get flooded with how good it would feel to take in just one puff. But then, I remember the baby. It would not be good for the baby. I can’t do it.
Things have changed quite a bit for me in the last few weeks, some for the better, others for the worse.
I never got out of the house, not even to go to the doctor for a checkup. And every time Becca visited with Arlene, I just hid in my room for hours at a time. Puck would come see me every chance he got, but it just felt like something was missing from our relationship.
“Open up.” Steve pushes the inhaler against my lips, a new wave of panic taking over. I am so worried about the baby.
That is one thing that changed for the better. I got attached to the baby. My belly has been growing, and when I felt the first soft kick inside of me, I fell in love.
I thought I was over my sudden addiction to whatever drug Steve has been giving me in these inhalers, but when he pushes it against my mouth now, I am so grateful for it, my hands are grasping greedily at his arms to make sure he doesn’t take it away.
“Ah,” he sighs with contentment when I am done and seem to be feeling better. “Who would’ve thought you’d be such a perfect fit for this situation, Emily?”
I don’t say anything, just continue holding on to him, unable to form words.
“Do you want more?”
He brings the inhaler back to my lips. I stare at it, knowing the relief it will bring me. Puck’s horrified face when he saw me using one before floats inside my head, but only for a very brief moment. I want to jerk away and say no just so I don’t disappoint him. But I don’t think he understands my situation.
I am ashamed of myself when I nod at Steve. A disgusting smirk takes over his entire face. He is happy. Maybe he will then leave me alone. I really don’t want to have sex with him, and I am too weak right now to protest it if he attempts it.
All of a sudden, flashing lights are shining inside my living room. Both me and Steve jump in surprise. He walks away from me to look out the window, his hand automatically going to the pocket of his trousers.
