Page 113 of Unorthodox
I might’ve thought I wouldn’t mind dying before.
But right now, my survival instinct kicks in.
I lunge toward him instead of away, springing at him with all that I have, and together, we fall down the stairwell, Zeke’s surprise and my body weight knocking him backward.
It’s not enough steps to totally maim him, but his body cushions my blow on the next landing, knocking the breath from him for a brief moment.
He curses as his spine hits the cement floor and my hands are planted on his chest. But his hands grab my arms as I try to scramble to my feet. He yanks me down toward him, slowly sitting up as he does, his back against the wall, a scowl on his face. I’m on my knees and I try to rip myself away from his grasp, my heart thudding loudly in my ears.
He only laughs, and I know I’m in a worse position than I was.
Tears sting the back of my eyes as I hit him, slapping him in the face, digging my nails into his skin, adrenaline, fury, and fear propelling my arms forward with every blow.
He grips me so tight I’m worried he might break the bones in my arm, but I don’t stop hitting him as he turns his face to dodge my blows.
“I’m trying to help you, Addison,” he says through gritted teeth, then he moves, forcing me to my back on the floor, my head slamming against the cement so hard I see stars.
He pins my arms down by my sides as he kneels over me, his face red from my hands and nails, but he’s still smiling.
“I see why Max likes you,” he says, chestnut eyes gleaming. “You’re a feisty bitch and he really loves a fight, huh?”
I swallow, trying to wet my mouth, trying to draw breath to scream. But he must see what I’m going to do, because he grabs my wrists in one hand, clamps his other over my mouth, nearly putting all of his weight against my face.
The pain is an ache against my jaw that has tears blurring my vision, even though the last thing I want to do is let him see me cry.
“This could’ve been easy,Addison,” he purrs, leaning down so his nose nearly touches mine. There’s a roaring so loud in my ears that I can barely hear him.
I feel like I’m going to vomit. I feel like my jaw is going to break under the force of him leaning against me.
“I didn’t know you wanted to be Max’s bitch.” His nose touches mine and he moves his head to the side, rubbing his against me. “The man I work for won’t be very happy to hear that. But he’ll like that you’re brave. Because heloves a fight too.”
He presses his brow to mine, and I can smell the alcohol on his breath as my nostrils flare, trying to draw in air. “The thing is, though, brave girls don’t last long here, Addison. They end up as corpses.”
I’m shaking beneath him, my body betraying me by trembling. The tears slide down my face, and he leans back, taking them in. But as he does, some of the pain against my face eases.
“I’m going to move my hand,” he says quietly, taking in the tears on my cheek, “but if you scream, I promise you,Addison, you won’t leave this house alive.”
Chills run down my body and the trembling intensifies, even as I try to lock up my limbs. To stay perfectly still.
I can’t.
I can’t even nod. I can barely breathe. I can do nothing but wait.
He moves his hand.
I pull air into my mouth, flexing my jaw, trying to alleviate the pain that seems to rattle even my teeth.
His fingers around my wrists tighten, and he trails the hand that was on my mouth down my side, to the edge of my dress, his eyes following his finger.
No.No.
I suck in a breath, bite my lip so I don’t scream, because I believe him. He’ll kill me. But what he might do instead could be worse.
“W-who do you really work for?” I ask him, hating the way my voice shakes. “Whoare you?”
His hand clamps down on my bare thigh. “Are you still a virgin, Addison?” he asks, ignoring me.
I close my eyes. I can’t watch him take me in. My thigh shakes beneath his grip. I can’t speak.
