CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2)

by Delaney, Clair

  “She’s back!” someone shouts. Back? Where have I been? I question but no words come out.

  I hear more voices, people shouting at one another, I try to hear what they are saying but they seem so far away. I try to open my eyes, but I feel myself slipping, the fog washes over me again. I let it take me, hoping I’ll see my Mom again...

  ***

  IT’S JUST GONE SIX O’CLOCK BY THE TIME STUART DROPS ME OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. We were so busy today. I’m hoping that means we’ll be back in profit soon. I’ll have to ask Tristan to check it out for me. The moment I walk into the house, I know something isn’t right. The house is eerily dark and silent. There’s no lights on anywhere. Edith isn’t in the kitchen, which she normally is at this time of night, and Tristan hasn’t come to greet me, which he always does when I arrive home. I frown and scan my surroundings, something...something’s wrong – But what? Why do I feel worried, on edge, like all my senses are on hyper alert.

  “Tristan?” I call out for him, my heart hammering against my chest.

  I hear footsteps in the kitchen, and I’m about to take a step forward, but to my complete and utter horror, Kane comes waltzing around the breakfast bar, a smug smile spread across his face.

  Fuck! What is he doing in our house? I glance at the alarm, the cover is down, and there’s no green light flashing. The police don't know we’ve intruders in our house – Fuck!

  I should be afraid, for myself, for Tristan, for Edith, but I don't. My body instantly floods with adrenalin, fight or flight kicking in. I grit my teeth and glare back at him – What the fuck is he doing in my house!

  All I feel is pure rage flooding through my veins – Rage and hatred for this evil twisted freak. He stops at least four feet away from me. I take a quick snap shot of the room, there’s no sign of a struggle, so where the fuck is Tristan?

  “So glad you’re home,” he says, smiling brightly. I instantly realise I’m being flanked from behind. I drop my bag, clench my fists, and step my feet apart ready to fight them off – Damn, I wish I wasn’t in a skirt and heels right now! But I don't panic, because any minute now Stuart’s going to come through that door, and they’ll be screwed.

  I grit my teeth and glare at Kane. “Where’s Tristan?” I growl.

  He laughs, and takes another step forward, I take a step back in response.

  “I thought you might ask that.” He cracks a smile again. “Careful boys, this one knows how to fight,” he adds, then nods to the men behind me.

  The two men lunge and try to grab hold of me. Will always told me that screaming is useless, that it just wastes energy, so I fight, with all of my might. I manage to pull my arm free from the guy on my left, I turn and slam the heel of my hand into his nose. I don't think I shoved it into his brain, but he looks stunned for a moment as blood starts pouring out his nostrils, then he passes out on the floor – One down!

  The other guy still has my other arm in his grip, so I crouch down, pulling his arm as I do, and go to flip him over my back, but he’s evidently trained in this kind of fighting, so he counteracts me, by twisting back on my arm and kneeing me in the stomach – I groan as all the air leaves my lungs. In the next second he flips me onto my stomach, smashing me to the floor, he crushes his knee in between my shoulder blades and pulls my arms back – Fuck that hurts! But I don't scream, I won't scream. I pull my leg back, kicking him hard at the bottom of his spine with the heel of my foot, but he just twists and rams his foot down on the back of my knees. I’m pinned to the floor – Fuck!

  Then I feel my hands being tied – Shit! He pulls me up by my shoulders, pushes me onto my side and brings his fist down hard across my cheek – I see stars.

  “That’s enough!” Kane snaps. I glare up at my attacker. His eye is split, and there’s a streak of dried blood that’s run down his cheek. His left cheek is swollen, his ear is split and bleeding and his lip is split too. And I know, I just know – he’s fought with Tristan.

  “Bring her down,” Kane snaps.

  Kane stomps across the hallway and heads down the stairs. I’m instantly pulled to my feet, I quickly kick off my heels, I’ll fight better without them. He grabs me by the scruff of the neck and drags me along with him. We head down the stairs, down into the basement. Kane is in front of me, but too far in front for me to kick him in the back. We bypass the cinema room, then Kane opens the door to the swimming pool, and I’m pushed through. All the air leaves my lungs when I see him. I feel my heart thud to a stop then begin racing out of control.

  “Tristan!” I gasp. I’m shocked and horrified by what lies before me. Tristan is next to the pool. He’s sitting on a chair, his arms and feet are bound to the chair with duct tape, and there’s several free weights taped to his legs – His face is almost unrecognisable; he’s been beaten so badly that he can barely hold his head up, his right eye is so swollen you can't see his eye at all.

  There’s a man standing behind him, Tristan must have fought with him too because he has a split lip, a bloody nose, and his right cheek bone looks cracked. It’s really swollen and has blood pouring out of it, and he’s clutching his stomach as though he’s in pain.

  I look down at the weights again, then at the swimming pool – And I know, it’s to make him heavier, so he’ll sink to the bottom of the pool – Fuck!

  “Coral.” Tristan says, his voice so torn, so ragged, it’s as though he’s being hung drawn and quartered. He takes a deep breath, wincing as he does. “RUN!” he roars wildly...

  Want to know what happens in CORAL – Forever?

  Click on this link and it will take you straight to the finale in this awesome series – http://amzn.to/11g12fI

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  Sorry folks, but here’s the boring copyright bit!

  CORAL-Fallen - By Clair Delaney - Copyright © 2014 by Clair Delaney

  The moral rights of the author have been asserted. All characters and events in this e-book other than those clearly in the public domain are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidence - All right reserved. This e-book is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the author, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text, maybe a direct infringement of the authors rights, and those responsible maybe liable in law accordingly.

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  Big kisses and hugs,

  Clair Delaney.