Uncrushable (Forehead Kisses #3)

by Abby Reynolds

  I didn’t turn around. I kept my position, trying to see his reflection through the glass.

  “Your man toy hasn’t been around lately.”

  He must have been watching the house. How did he know where I lived? He must have followed me the last time I visited Scotty. The first thing he wanted to do with his freedom was destroy me.

  The panic set in. I remembered the way he tormented me, manipulated me with his misplaced affections. He never loved me. All he wanted to do was control me, to use me when he needed something. And when he didn’t get his way or I defied him, he hurt me. I was so weak against him, so small. Numerous bruises marked my body, most of them not visible with the naked eye. They went down deep, far into my soul.

  I heard his footsteps as he came closer to me. “Jail wasn’t fun. Thanks for asking.” The disdain leaked in his voice.

  What do I do? Should I open the door and run? I was fast but was I fast enough?

  “Baby, turn around. Don’t you want to see the man you professed to love?”

  My breathing was haywire but I controlled it. Even though we hadn’t spoken in years, I never forgot his unpredictable nature. He could snap at any moment, especially when he didn’t get his way. Slowly, I turned around.

  His face wasn’t the same. Lines marked the skin around his mouth, like he’d aged decades, not years. There was a hardness to him, like he’d been to hell and back. There was no hint of the boy I had fallen for. All I saw was the destructive man he turned into. Darkness shined bright in his eyes, coming directly from his blackened soul. “You look different.” His eyes took me in, studying my face and then my body. “You grew into your curves.”

  I didn’t like him looking at me like that. I belonged to Liam now. Only he had the right to give me that look.

  He took a step forward, making me flinch. “I’ve had a very horrible year. Sharing a cell with a serial killer wasn’t exactly my idea of a good time.”

  “Knowing my parents died to protect me from you wasn’t peachy either.” My hatred came out. Every second I looked at him, I wanted to rip his throat out. I never hated anyone more than him, not even Adrianna. Actually, they would be perfect together, both twisted and crazy.

  His eyes widened in irritation. “Don’t back talk me.” The volume of his voice increased. “I don’t need to remind you of that.”

  “I don’t listen to you anymore.” I stood my ground. He used to boss me around but those days were over.

  Another step was taken. “I was hoping we could catch up before I strangle you. But you clearly want to skip to the good part.”

  “Don’t. Touch. Me.”

  Amusement came into his eyes. “Someone has gotten feisty over the years. You think your beast of a man will protect you? I don’t see him anywhere.”

  “I don’t need him to protect me.”

  He smiled and it made me want to slap him. “You’re cute. I like it.”

  I stepped to the side, trying to put space between us. “Leave my house now.”

  “Do you have any idea what you’ve done to me? I rotted in jail for over a year and was practically tortured. And now that I’m out, they’re trying to rehabilitate me. But what future do I have? I’m a criminal and I’ll always be considered a criminal.” Spit started to fly out of his mouth. “You ruined my life, Keira.”

  “Then maybe you shouldn’t have beat me. Maybe you should have been a real man and showed me respect. You expect me to feel sorry for you? Forget it. If you ask me, jail was too good for you.”

  His fists clenched at his sides and his knuckles turned white. “I’m going to have a good time getting my revenge from you. And by the way, I haven’t been with a woman in over a year…” He eyed my body suggestively. “So I’m going to take care of that before I bury you six feet under.”

  I was scared. I hated to admit it but I was. Being in jail didn’t make him smaller. Somehow, he had more muscle tone and greater strength. And the crazed look in his eye told me he was determined to win this fight.

  But I could do this. Liam taught me to defend myself. I already proved I could hold my weight in a fight weeks ago. I really wish Liam were here to protect me, to rip this guy into pieces, but he wasn’t. It was just me.

  I was sick of being the victim—sick of it. He plagued my nightmares for too long. And if he thought he was going to hurt me—and rape me—he had another thing coming. If only one of us was getting out of here alive, it was gonna be me.

  And that’s what was going to happen.

  “Fight me and I’ll make it excruciating. Submit and I’ll be gentle and end it quickly. Your choice, baby.”

  “If you do this, you’re either going to die or go back to jail. You have the chance to start your life over again. Being punished really taught you nothing?”

  “It gave me plenty of time to think about those who had wronged me.” His jaw was clenched in rage.

  Something snapped inside me. “You don’t deserve to live.”

  “Just because I deserve something doesn’t mean I’ll get it. And the same goes for you.” He came at me, his hands outstretched.

  Now was the time. Everything Liam taught me came to my mind. I pulled my fists to my chest, tucked my chin, and concentrated. Finn thought I was just as weak as I used to be. He had no idea how strong I’d become. And that would catch him off guard.

  He snatched my arm and yanked me toward him. He was stronger than I anticipated.

  I twisted out of his hold then elbowed him in the nose.

  His head flew back and his hands immediately went to his face.

  I wouldn’t give him a reprieve. I kneed him in the groin then punched him hard in the stomach.

  He moaned then stumbled back. “What the fuck?”

  I didn’t stop. I raised my foot and kicked him hard in the knee, trying to break the cap.

  He hissed in irritation, and his eyes widened in unbridled rage. “You fucking bitch.” He rushed me, the intent to kill made clear. His hand reached for my throat, but my chin was tucked, blocking his hold. I twisted my arm out but he caught it. Then he bent it backwards, trying to break it.

  I screamed when I knew it was about to snap. Focusing on the moment, I spun into him then slammed my head against his. His hand dropped my arm while he stepped back.

  I aimed a kick at his injured leg but he caught it this time. Then he twisted it, making me fall to the ground.

  “I’m going to make you scream.” He jumped on top of me and held me down with his weight.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  He gripped my throat and squeezed, choking me. His other hand moved to my jeans, undoing the zipper and buttons.

  No. I would not let this happen.

  My mind was fading from the lack of oxygen.

  No. I will not allow this.

  What do I do?

  “Finn, I missed you so much.”

  His hand stilled and he looked at me, confusion on his face. “Wait…?” My declaration completely caught him off guard. His attention focused on my face, I lifted my leg and wrapped it around his neck then squeezed like a python. Then I pulled him to the floor.

  He gasped then gripped my thigh, trying to get my leg off. I kept squeezing, refusing to let go. Then he reached out and grabbed my hair, yanking on it hard. I screamed and felt the hair rip from my scalp. The distraction was enough for him to evade my hold.

  When he got up, he moved to the kitchen.

  What was he doing? Was he running?

  He pulled a steak knife from out of the rack then came back to me.

  Oh shit.

  Finn sliced it at me but I dodged out of the way. Liam had never trained me with a knife, but I could do this. I just had to focus. He may be bigger than me, but I was faster. It took more effort for him to move than for me to step out of the way.

  He sashed the knife back and forth, trying to knick me whenever possible. I stayed just out of range from the deadly point, protecting myself as much as possible. He would get me event
ually unless I took the blade from him. That was the only way.

  I kept spinning away from him, making him grow agitated from his continued misses. When he pushed me up against a wall so I was cornered, I waited for him to lash at me one more time. Once his arm was thrown I grabbed his wrist then shoved him into the wall, making him drop the knife.

  He kicked me hard in the thigh then shoved me violently, trying to get to the knife first. Unable to reach it with my hand, I kicked it under the dining table, watching it slide across the hard wood floor.

  He slapped me hard across the face, just like he used to, and then dove for it.

  I jumped on top of the table then slid to the other side, making it tip over. The chairs were knocked over and the cushions on the seats scattered to the floor.

  Finn finally grabbed it then came after me.

  He was coming right at me, but as I sprinted out of the way, my foot caught on a cushion and I slid to the ground.

  He was almost on me. There was nothing I could do. He would stab me right in the back.

  He grabbed my shoulder then forced me to my back. “I want to watch you die. And when you’re bleeding to death, I’m going to ram you until I’m satisfied.”

  Fucking psycho.

  He raised the knife to stab me in the chest.

  Reaching for my last lifeline, I grabbed a cushion and held it above my chest as he stabbed me. The knife ripped through but his hand didn’t make it. The fabric stayed tough.

  I yanked it from his grasp then rolled out of the way. I was about to get up when he lunged at me again. At the last second, making the decision without thinking about it, I turned the cushion over and he landed right on top of it.

  His breathing hitched when he looked into my eyes. His eyes suddenly widened and then blood seeped from his mouth. He gurgled then gasped, winded. I distantly felt the warm blood move into my clothes and soak the floor. I stared at his face, watching the light leave his eyes.

  I didn’t kill him. He killed himself accidentally, but I was partially responsible. Despite that fact, I felt no remorse for what I was watching. There was no sympathy and I had no urge to comfort him. I didn’t want to help him. Instead, I stayed underneath him as his body tightened and became firm. The last of his breaths came out weak. He tried to speak but nothing came out, just jumbled words.

  His eyes finally stopped moving. His body suddenly deflated of oxygen. His heart stopped beating. He was rigid and still.

  I looked into his open eyes and remembered all the nights of terror. “I’m free…” I shoved him off of me and stayed on the floor, soaked in blood. The cushion was still attached to him. Unable to move or think, I stayed absolutely still. My heart was beating dangerously slow now that the fight had ended. I listened to the silence, welcoming it. The world was now a much safer place for me.

  If Liam hadn’t come into my life, I’d be dead right now.

  A life for a life. Now he and I were square.

  I sat on the steps outside while the police moved in and out of my house. They questioned me repeatedly and then they questioned Finn’s parole officer. Based on my testimony and his report, it was pretty clear the whole incident was self-defense. Finn had the motive, and he fell on his own knife. I was just lucky to escape alive.

  Scotty came up the driveway, running. “Keira!” He fell to his knees in front of me then looked at me, fear in his eyes. “I just got the call…what happened?”

  I was calm. My voice was low. “Finn is dead.”

  “You killed him?” he whispered.

  “Yes…and no. He tried to stab me, but when I turned over, he fell on the knife. It was his own doing, really.”

  “You seem awfully calm…” His eyes searched my face.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” I felt rejuvenated, happy. “The man who ruined my life is gone. He’ll never bother me again. He’ll never haunt me again. I can move on and be free.”

  He grabbed both of my hands and held them in his. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m more than okay.”

  “You don’t look beat up.”

  “Because I kicked his ass, Scotty—thanks to Liam.”

  “Yeah…” He sat beside me and pulled me into his arms. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  “Me too.”

  He rested his head on mine with his arms tight around me. I closed my eyes, loving the embrace of my only family member in the entire world. He was always on my side, always protecting me. But now I protected myself.

  Somehow, inexplicably, I knew Liam was there. He was on the property, just down the driveway. Our souls were synced in an undeniable way. I opened my eyes and saw him heading toward me, the fear heavy in his face.

  “I told Liam,” Scotty said. “I thought he should know…”

  I stood up and left his arms, seeing Liam come closer to me.

  His chest rammed into me when he hugged me, almost knocking me over. He gripped my thighs and pulled me off the ground, anchoring my body to his form. He held me close, his face buried in my neck.

  He said nothing, just holding me.

  I thought his ribs would be in pain, but if they were, he didn’t show it. He squeezed me tightly, having no intention of letting me go.

  I stayed in his arms, finally feeling safe.

  “Are you okay?” he whispered.

  “Yes.”

  Scotty excused himself and went inside.

  He took a deep breath, and I felt his wide chest expand into me. “You killed him?”

  “No…but he’s dead.”

  “Good.”

  “I wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for you…”

  He took another deep breath. “Please don’t say that. Just thinking about you dying…” He couldn’t finish the sentence. I felt his tears emerge on my neck. They were warm.

  “Liam, I’m okay.”

  “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. You were in the hospital.”

  “I shouldn’t have told you to go home…”

  “Stop, Liam. I’m okay. That’s all that matters.”

  He continued to hold me while people walked in and out of the house. The red and blue lights of the police cars shined in my eyes. Finn’s body was taken away hours ago. I stayed at the house because I was too numb to leave.

  “Can I tell you something?” I whispered.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m glad he’s dead.”

  “I am too,” he said without hesitation. He finally pulled his face away from my neck, the tears gone. “I love you so much, baby. I couldn’t live without you…”

  “I couldn’t live without you.”

  He rested his head against mine and closed his eyes. “I’m glad all of this is over—everything.”

  “We survived—and now we’re stronger because of it.”

  “We’re unbreakable.”

  “Unshakeable.”

  He pressed his lips to my forehead. “And now uncrushable.”

  Epilogue

  Liam

  I hopped on my feet, circling my opponent in the ring. He aimed a few swipes at me, but missed every hit. I was too fast, and he was too big. His muscle mass was weighing him down.

  When he threw his fist at my face, I dodged out of the way.

  “Kick his ass!” Keira was on the outside of the rope, screaming at the top of her lungs.

  I smirked. Her enthusiasm was adorable.

  He lunged at me, trying to finally land a hit.

  “Take him out!” Keira pulled on the ropes.

  I sidestepped his punch then kneed him from behind. When he was down, I wailed my fists against his face, bloodying his lip more than I already had. He tried to cover his face but I wouldn’t let him.

  The ref blew the whistle. “End of match.”

  Keira screamed louder than I ever heard her. “Yes! Liam!”

  I retreated to my corner and wiped my forehead with a towel. Water was handed to me and I downed it.
<
br />   Keira crawled through the ropes then wrapped her arms around me despite all the sweat on my chest. “You put him in his place.”

  I smirked at her, loving the sight of her at the sidelines. “I did.”

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me. “So proud of you.”

  My eyes softened while I stared at her. “Thanks.”

  The guys climbed onto the stage. Bran clapped my shoulder. “Let’s go out. Liam is buying.”

  “Look how that worked out,” I said sarcastically.

  “Let’s head to the Gaslight,” Tony said. “It helps with the ladies when they see me with a champion.”

  “Always using me,” I said.

  “I like to use you too…” Keira gave me a playful look.

  “Well, that’s perfectly okay,” I whispered to her.

  Scotty looked uncomfortable. “Anyway…”

  “Let’s head out,” Bran said.

  Johnny came onto the stage. “Good match.” He shook my hand.

  “Thanks, man.”

  He handed me the check. “Your winnings…”

  Bran tried to snatch it away.

  “I don’t think so, buddy.” I handed it to Keira.

  Keira took it and placed it in her wallet.

  “Why does she get the money?” Tony demanded.

  “Because she’s my girl,” I argued.

  “And I rock his world,” Keira added.

  Scotty looked uncomfortable again. “Anyway…”

  “Let’s go,” Bran said. “I’m parched.”

  We moved through the crowd as we headed outside. I kept Keira close to my side, protecting her with my size.

  When we were outside, Keira handed me a shirt. “I don’t want anyone else to see that more than they have to.” She kissed the skin over my heart. “This is mine.”

  I liked her increase in confidence and her territorial ways. “Yes, ma’am.” She wore one of my swag t-shirts, a picture of me with my fists pressed together. It had my name and my title in red. It looked good on her.