My back collided with the wall, and I slapped my palm down onto it, using it to guide me into the kitchen. There were weapons in there, weapons I could hold up to get him to leave. “I mean it, Knox. You need to leave. A-Asher will be back any minute and—”
“Asher? That his name?” He lunged forward and I squealed, but I wasn’t quick enough because his body slammed into mine and he boxed me in against the wall. “Moved on real quick, didn’t you?”
I squeezed my eyes closed at how close he was, but it was a mistake, a big mistake. I flinched as his hand trailed over my chest and made its way to my throat. I pushed at him to stop touching me, but it did nothing to deter him. His hand grasped my throat with so much force the back of my head smacked off the wall. And I knew then it wasn’t going to end well. He could contain and control his anger, but his rage? His rage was a beast in itself.
“Don’t fuckin’ touch me,” he ground out.
I wanted to retort the same damn words, but his grip was so tight I could barely breathe. I clutched at his arm, not heeding his warning, and tried to push him away.
“You’re a fuckin’ whore.” He reeled back, and I flinched as wetness flew over my face. Did he spit on me? “You’re worth nothing. Nothing.”
“Then why are you here?” I lashed out, my words coming out broken. “Why are you here if I’m worth nothing?”
“Because!” he roared, moving his hand off my throat and clutching the T-shirt I was wearing. His other hand wrapped around my head and he yanked me off the wall. “You’re fuckin’ mine!”
I gasped for breath, feeling the burning in my throat, and I was sure he’d done more damage than ever before, but I wasn’t going to back down. I was going to fight, not for anyone else, but for me.
“No, I’m not!” I stared into his dark eyes, seeing the rage so clearly and uncontained. He was too far gone. “I’ve never been yours, and never will be—”
Stinging ricocheted across my face, and it was only a second later I realized he slapped me. But once wasn’t enough for him. He followed it up with a backhand, making sure the ringing in my ear was well and truly there. I felt the blood burst into my mouth, and I licked at it and laughed. He didn’t have anything on me. Not anymore.
“You can hit me until I’m covered in bruises from head to toe.” I straightened, showing him I wasn’t the weakling he thought I was. I was strong. I’d always been strong. I just hadn’t known it. “It doesn’t matter what you do. You’ll never have a piece of me.”
His chest heaved with each of his breaths, and I was sure I saw smoke coming out of his nose at how angry he was, but I didn’t care. I’d told him the truth. It didn’t matter what he did to me because I’d survived him already. I’d come out on the other side and—
“That’s where you’re wrong.” His fingers clawed at my hair as he yanked on it. My scalp burned as he pulled me across the living room and toward my half-open apartment door. “You’ll never be done with me. Never.”
“Get the hell off of me!” I screamed, not liking that he was trying to get me out of my apartment. What was he trying to achieve? Why had he come here? I clawed at his arm, digging my nails in until I drew blood, and finally he let go of me and threw me down onto the floor. My forehead smacked off the table and everything went blurry for a couple of seconds, but I knew I couldn’t keep my back to him. I couldn’t let my guard down. I turned, letting my ass hit the carpet just for one second so I could get my bearings.
“Fuck!” He roared, a literal roar. “You’re gonna pay for that, bitch.” I pushed my hands into the carpet, trying to get up, but I wasn’t quick enough. He flung himself at me, his head down and shoulders out, and his body slammed into mine, his shoulder barging into my chest and winding me.
My breath whooshed out of me and I couldn’t get it back. It was stuck and I was starting to panic. Everything was happening too quickly. My head spun and pain exploded over my face as his fist slammed into my cheek, causing me to stop fighting for a second. But that second was all he needed to get me exactly where he wanted me.
“You need to be put in your place.” He lifted up a little, his face so close to mine I could feel his breath fanning over my skin. His hands grasped my waist and I finally gasped a breath. “And it looks like it’s gonna fall on my shoulders.” His gaze met mine, and there wasn’t a trace of the Knox I’d grown up with. Gone was the loving boy who stuck up for me to everyone, and in his place was evil—pure evil.
His hand wormed its way down my body and the sound of a zip rang out. It took me a second to understand what he was doing, and I panicked. “What—” He gripped the waistband of my jeans and yanked them down in one swift motion, exposing me to him. “What are you doing?” I panicked, my hand reaching for the material, but I couldn’t gain traction. They were gone before I’d even gotten the chance. “Knox, stop it!”
I tried to crawl backward, but his heavy body was on top of me and I couldn’t move a muscle. I couldn’t get away from him, no matter how hard I tried. I slapped at his face and used all my strength to push at his chest, but one grip of my wrists was all it took to hold them above my head. I was trapped with no escape in sight.
“Please, don’t,” I begged. “Please, please, Knox.”
“Fuck yeah, beg me,” he groaned out, and a sob built up in my throat. He wasn’t going to back down. He wasn’t going to get off me. He wasn’t going to—
The room spun as he lifted his hips, and in my subconscious I knew what he was going to do next. I knew I should have fought like hell. I knew I should have done anything and everything to stop him, but my mind shut down. My brain tried to protect me from what was about to happen, but it had no influence over the physical pain I felt.
He pounded into me, and I screamed out as he tore me apart. I wasn’t ready for him. Not like I had been with Asher. God. Had that only been twenty-four hours ago? How could I have been the happiest I’d ever been one minute, and then the next…this.
Maybe Knox was right. You could take the girl out of the trailer park, but you couldn’t take the trailer park out of the girl. He was showing me what he thought of me. How he viewed me. Maybe I deserved this. Maybe this was what my life was meant to be. I’d been shown a glimpse of a better life today, but it was an illusion. An illusion I could never be a part of.
I rolled my head, my gaze connecting with the kitchen counter where I’d been the happiest. His fists hitting my ribs didn’t gain a reaction out of me, and neither did his painful grasp of my hips. Nothing mattered to me anymore. Nothing.
I’d been wrong when I’d told him he’d never own a piece of me.
He’d stolen the last piece of the puzzle. A piece I’d never be able to get back.
Acknowledgments
I’m not sure where to start with these acknowledgments because so much happened while I was writing this story.
My first huge thank you needs to go to Paige. You’re the most awesomest Alpha Reader and PA. Thank you for loving my stories as much as I do, and generally just being you! But most of all, thank you for reading these on a time constraint. I’m not sure what I’d do without you!
Thank you to my husband and two awesome daughters who never fail to make me smile and continue to support the crazy road that is being an author. I love you all lots and lots like jelly tots!
My next thank you has to go to Jenn, my editor. I swear you saved my life and I appreciate so much you understanding everything that has been going on and still fitting me in. You’re the best Canadian a girl could ask for!
Linda. I swear I’d be lost without you! Thank you soooo much for everything you do. You’re always there no matter what, and I’m not sure what I’d do without you! You push me when I need to be pushed, and tell me to slow down when I need to stop. You save my ass more times than I can count, and I love you!
My proofreader, Judy. Thank you for putting up with me! Thank you for switching dates with me constantly. I swear, one of these days I’ll be on time. Never leave m
e, because I’d be lost without you!
I’d liked to say a huge thank you to my BETAs readers: Nikki & Yvonne. You ladies are amazeballs and I couldn’t do this without your continued support.
My second thank you needs to go to my husband and daughters. This book became such a huge part of my life, and I can’t thank you enough for putting up with my weird ways.
To my ARC team. You ladies are simply amazing and I love for each and every one of your messages! Thank you for taking the time to ready my stories, I appreciate so much.
To the bloggers who help share EVERYTHING. I love you so much, and I can’t put into words how grateful I am! You are a special bunch of people who continue to put a smile on my face.
To all the authors in the community. You continue to support me and I can’t thank you enough for that. I love our little slice of heaven, and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
Lastly, I want to say thank you, to you. Thank you for taking a chance on this book. Thank you for reading. And thank you for being awesome!
Deep Burn
Bonded Duet: Book Two
The Easton Family Saga
The Easton Family Saga can be read in any order. Each duet is a standalone duet but can also be enjoyed as one big series!
Fallen Duet
Book 1: Free Fall
Book 2: Down Fall
Fated Duet
Book 1: Defy Fate
Book 2: Obey Fate
Bonded Duet
Book 1: Torn Bond
Book 2: Tied Bond
Burned Duet
Book 1: Fast Burn
Book 2: Deep Burn
Deep Burn
Burned Duet: Book Two
Copyright © 2020 Abigail Davies.
All rights reserved.
Published: Abigail Davies 2020
www.abigaildaviesauthor.com
No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form without written consent from the author. Except in the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a piece of fiction. Any names, characters, businesses, places or events are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events or locations is purely coincidental.
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you are reading this book and have not purchased it for your use only, then you should return it to your favorite book retailer and purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
Editing: Jennifer Roberts-Hall
Proofreading: Judy’s Proofreading
Photo Credit: © JW Photography
Cover Models: Natalie Herbst & Dan Krogman
Cover Design: Pink Elephant Designs
Formatting: Pink Elephant Designs
Contents
The Easton Family Saga
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Also by Abigail Davies
About the Author
Chapter Seventeen
ASHER
I couldn’t stop the smile from pulling at my lips, no matter how hard I tried. We’d had an amazing day, and even though I knew everyone would like Elodie, I’d never have thought she’d fit in the way she did. She was an outsider coming in, but not once had any of my family treated her as that. They accepted her, just like I’d hoped they would.
But now I was driving away to help Jax deal with Al, when all I wanted was to wrap my arms around her and stare into her gorgeous navy-blue eyes. I wanted to get lost in them—lost in her. My leg bounced up and down the closer I got to the clubhouse. Jax wouldn’t have called me unless it was dire, but I wouldn’t be here long. I needed to get back to Elodie and exist in the bubble we’d created.
The guard waved me through the open gates, and I pulled through and halted in front of the main doors to the clubhouse. But as I was about to turn my engine off, my cell vibrated on a constant rhythm along with a tone I’d never heard before. What the fuck? I yanked it out of the front pocket of my jeans and unlocked the screen, then clicked on the alert symbol.
“What the…” I stared at the words and read them over and over again, frowning as I tried to make sense of it. Someone had tripped the security system in the shop. Elodie knew not to go down into the main section when no one was there, and if she did, she had the security code and knew where the box to input it was concealed. So why was I getting this alert?
I clicked on the footage button on my screen to view a live feed of the shop, but it took a second to load. I flicked my gaze up and spotted Jax standing in the doorway with a frown on his face, and I was sure my expression mirrored his. My cell pinged again, and I glanced back down at it now that the camera angles had finally loaded. I started with the camera on the back door but there was nothing there. The one above the side door showed that door was open, so Elodie must have gone down into the store.
I held my finger up at Jax, telling him I’d be one minute. I just needed to check the other two camera angles from inside the shop and the front door, then I could click the “false alarm” button so that the police didn’t automatically come out. The entire security system had cost a huge amount of money, but the Marine in me wanted everything to be as safe as it could be. I had the same system in my house too.
The first camera in the main part of the store was clear, as was the second one. I was just reaching for my keys to switch the ignition off when the camera on the front door filled my cell screen. My heart hammered in my chest, and I jerked my cell closer to my face, sure I wasn’t seeing what I was. But no, it was there, the front door wide open.
Elodie wouldn’t open that door. She wouldn’t.
I jabbed at my screen and clicked on Elodie’s name to call her, but after several attempts and no answer, I glanced back up at Jax, shook my head, then threw my cell onto the passenger seat. My stomach bottomed out, my gut telling me this wasn’t a false alarm. Someone had broken into my shop and—fuck, the side door was open, so that meant they’d gone up to the apartment—up to Elodie.
My wheels spun as I sped out of the gate and back toward my shop. The entire ride was a blur of streetlights and taking corners way too fast, but I had to get there as quickly as I possibly could. I had to figure out what was going on. I had to make sure Elodie was safe.
I slammed my foot on the brake pedal as I pulled up in front of my shop, causing the tires to squeal and burning rubber to assault my nostrils. I didn’t care one bit about being parked at an angle as I flung the door open, then darted to the front door of my store. The lock had been drilled and the glass had a crack in it from where someone had tried to smash it. Jesus. What the fuck was going on?
My pulse spiked as I rushed through the store and to the side door, and as soon as I got to the bottom of the stairs, I heard grunting. Deep grunting. Male grunting. My head spun, my vision tunneled, and I sprinted up the stairs to the half-open apartment door. And…
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
My gaze bounced across the room, and it felt like it took hours to really soak in what was right in front of me, but in reality, it only took a second.
Elodie’s blank face.
Her body on the floor.
Her fight gone as the man on top of her took what he wanted.
I swayed to the right as my gaze connected with the jeans pulled down to her knees. I wanted to erase it from my mind that instant. I wanted to turn back time and never leave her here on her own. I needed to stop it.
I
had to stop it.
A roar so loud and guttural vibrated from my chest. I lunged for him. My body flew in the air as my arms wrapped around his shoulders and I yanked him back, twisting at the same time so he wouldn’t be touching her any longer.
He was off her now.
He was—fuck. It was her ex-boyfriend.
“You’re gonna die, fucker,” I warned, and I meant it. He’d come here and taken what wasn’t his. He’d ripped her choices away, just like he had when he’d laid his hands on her the first time. And now I regretted not teaching him a lesson the first time I’d witnessed him hurting her. I should have never let him go that day. I should have taught him what happened to guys who thought they could treat anyone the way he had. But I hadn’t. I’d been too consumed making sure Elodie was okay. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. I wouldn’t let him live another second without knowing what would happen when you took what wasn’t fuckin’ yours to take.
His laugh echoed around the apartment, so dark and sinister that it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “She feels even better when she doesn’t want it.” His tongue swiped over his lips as they lifted into a smirk. “She had a sweet-ass pussy before but now—”
I pummeled my fist into his face and rained punch after punch, wanting—needing him to shut the fuck up. Over and over again, I slammed my knuckles into his flesh, promising him he’d never be able to show another person that smirk again. He’d always been on the other end, but now I was going to show him what it meant to meet your match. And I was more than his match. I’d trained professionally to do maximum damage, and I wouldn’t be holding back, not with him, not after what he’d done.
Burned Duet: Asher & Elodie: Fast Burn & Deep Burn (Easton Family Duet Boxsets Book 4) Page 22