by Shayla Black
She took hold of his arm and tugged. “Too bad. This isn’t working out. All your stuff is in a garbage sack on the front porch. I want you gone now.”
“Stop being ridiculous. I’m not going anywhere. Leave me the hell alone and let me get some sleep,” he mumbled into the sofa, unmoving.
“No!” She rolled him onto his back and leaned into his face. “You’re drinking again. When you moved in, you promised you wouldn’t. You’re violent when you’re drunk, and I won’t have you here. Now get up and get out.”
He glared at her with bloodshot eyes. “You can’t make me.”
That rat-bastard son of a bitch. “I can. And I will.”
Tessa grabbed her cell phone and dialed Officer Mills. He’d helped her back in March, and she’d been really grateful he’d given her his card and direct line afterward. She’d programed it into her phone…just in case.
“Mills here,” he answered.
She identified herself, then rushed to explain. “My ex—the one you helped me boot from the house before—won’t leave and I want him out.”
“You lifted the restraining order, ma’am.”
“I did when he swore he stopped drinking and said he wanted to be a father to our daughter, but—”
“Put the phone down, Tessa.” She whirled to find Cash standing behind her, crowding her personal space.
He looked not just furious but violent. She’d never imagined he was capable of hurting her…until now. Had she miscalculated?
“I won’t.” She backed away, frightened, as she murmured into the phone. “Please come quickly. He’s scaring me.”
“Has he hit you?” Mills asked.
“No, but—”
“Has he threatened you?”
“Not verbally.” But the look on his face promised retribution and pain.
For the first time, she was genuinely afraid of Cash.
“Then I’m sorry, ma’am. If he hasn’t committed a crime or threatened to do so, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Please.” She backed up through the living room, into the kitchen. “He’s going to hurt me.”
Cash didn’t reply, just prowled after her with a cold smile.
Sober, her ex never behaved like a bully. But drunk? She didn’t want to know what he was capable of.
“But he didn’t tell you that?” the officer asked.
“Not in so many words—”
“Then I can’t help you. I got my ass chewed for removing him from your house last time, so unless he’s actually assaulted you or threatened to…my hands are tied.”
“Officer Mills, I—”
“His uncle is a bigwig with the power to get me fired. He’s not afraid to use it, and I’ve got a baby myself.”
This was going horrifyingly wrong. “Would you leave your wife and child with someone they were afraid of?”
He hesitated before sighing with regret. “I’m sorry.”
Then the officer hung up.
Cash laughed, something low and cold, as the silence on the other end forced her to pocket her phone. “Did you really think you could just get rid of me? No, babe. I shut that shit down a long time ago.”
Cold dread slid through Tessa. She was trapped. He hadn’t hit her—yet. But the tension in his body and the violence on his face had her bracing.
“What are you going to do?”
“Whatever the fuck I want, and you’re going to take it.”
The hell she was. Tessa refused to be anyone’s victim, especially his. She had to consider all her options. Surely she had some…
Yes, she could fight back. But physically, he was stronger. And angrier. Of course she’d try to talk him down, but when he was drunk, he didn’t hear reason. Maybe she could call the colonel again…but he’d ultimately send the person she should probably break down and call in the first place.
Zy.
Would he come to her rescue?
And what will happen if he does?
Someone could wind up hurt. Or dead.
Tessa swallowed nervously and tried to downshift into her reasonable voice. “Cash, c’mon. We both know this arrangement isn’t working. You can’t enjoy sleeping on an air mattress. I know you don’t like Hallie crying when you’re trying to focus on a game. You hate it when we come home at the end of the day and wake you up—”
“It would work a hell of a lot better if I was in your bed, which I will be tonight. If I’m stuck here, it’s past time for you to put out.”
“You’re not stuck. I just told you to go.”
“But you’re here,” he grated out as if she’d missed the obvious point. “And Hallie is, too. So I’m staying until I’m ready to leave.”
Nothing Cash said made sense. “Why?”
“I don’t owe you a fucking explanation. Get my shit off the porch—now.” He whipped a finger in the direction of the front door. “And move it into your bedroom, where it belongs. If you don’t, you’ll be sorry.”
Her dread turned to terror and her eyes stung as she teared up. How had she ever been stupid and lonely enough to get tangled up with someone as despicable as Cash?
“Now!” he growled through gritted teeth. “Or I swear to God, I’ll fucking kill you.”
Sober Cash wouldn’t have the balls to threaten her, much less follow through. Drunk Cash? She believed him.
“O-okay,” she placated, holding up her hands to ward him off. “Give me a minute. And some space.” Hallie chose that moment to wail. “I’ll do it as soon as I tend to her.”
“Don’t take too long.” Cash drilled her with a contemptuous glower. “Or I’ll make you sorry.”
With her heart racing, Tessa ditched into Hallie’s bedroom, picked up the stuffed bear the baby had tossed on the floor, and tucked it in her crib as she lifted her daughter, praying she wasn’t making a critical mistake. Then she anchored the baby on her hip, sidestepped a still-scowling Cash in the kitchen. Her keys were too far away, or she’d just drive the hell off. Instead, she hauled ass to the front door and left. She was safer outside, right?
As soon as the portal shut behind her, Tessa dashed into the night, putting distance between her and her ex. She scrolled through her contacts until she found Zy’s number. She had no idea what he’d be doing at nearly ten o’clock on a Friday night, especially if he was out on a double date. For all she knew, they could be wrapping up a late dinner, in the middle of a movie, or…busy.
Praying he’d answer, she dialed her phone with trembling fingers, cuddling her daughter as she waited.
But he answered immediately, as if he already sensed something was wrong. “Tessa?”
“Zy?” Her voice shook. “Please come. I need you. I’m afraid. The police won’t help, and Cash is threatening to kill me.”
He cursed. “Are you home?”
“Yes. I-in the front yard. I tried to throw him out, but he told me to bring his stuff back in the house or he’d make me sorry.”
“That motherfucking son of a bitch,” he cursed as she heard his feet pounding against the pavement. “I’m fifteen minutes away. Can you go anywhere?”
Not without her keys, and the one neighbor she was friends with was on another business trip. Her kids were home with their grandmother, but she didn’t dare risk them.
She needed a Plan B.
“Maybe. Let me find somewhere. I’ll call you back.” She didn’t wait to hang up. Every moment counted.
The evening was on the chilly side, and she hated that Hallie wasn’t wearing shoes or a coat, but she was still safer being cold than anywhere near Cash. So Tessa jogged toward the center of the neighborhood, dipping around bushes and picking up speed when she heard him shouting for her.
He was coming after her?
Her heart thudded and her head raced as she huddled in a corner of the neighborhood gazebo, and she reached for her phone again, trying to keep herself together.
“Tessa!” she heard Cash shout again. His voice was still far away…but closing in.<
br />
She shut her eyes and tried not to panic as Zy picked up on the first ring again. “You okay? Find a place?”
“I’m hiding in the park. But he’s coming after me.”
“Fuck. I’m still ten away. I’m driving as fast as I can…”
“I know.” And she did. Through the phone, she could hear him gunning his engine. “What do I do? It’s too far to walk to the store or anywhere public.” Especially at ten o’clock at night. “I can’t just hide. Hallie is getting fussy, and I’m alone out here. If she cries and he finds me…”
He cursed again. “Listen to me. Walk around the neighborhood. Stay on streets where you see porch lights or other indications that people are home and awake while you slowly make your way back to your place. I’ll be there as soon as I can, and I’ll call in reinforcements. Stay near your phone. If he catches up to you, scream like your life depends on it.”
Because it probably did. “Okay.”
“I’ll be there as fast as I can, baby.”
“I’m sorry.” She failed miserably at not trembling with fear.
“Don’t ever apologize for needing me. I’m here for you.”
Then the line went dead.
“Goddamn it, Tess! Where the fuck are you?” Cash was getting closer. “I’m not chasing your ass in the dark.”
She really wished he wouldn’t, but she had a terrible feeling he wouldn’t stop—until someone stopped him.
With her heart lurching, she tiptoed out of the gazebo, to the corner of the park, and down the adjacent street, kissing Hallie’s soft baby curls to quiet her fussy grunts and soothing her with a whisper. Seconds ticked by like hours. The neighborhood wasn’t that big. It wouldn’t take Cash long to find her, unless… Could she possibly double back to her place, grab her keys, and slip away before he found her? Fleeing wasn’t her first choice. Nor was ceding her home to him, even temporarily. But it was better than whatever he had in mind.
Tessa picked up the pace, doing her best to run back to her duplex in the high heels she’d worn to work on now-tired feet. Her heart jerked. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. Her audible breathing jacked up her fear, especially as Cash continued snarling after her.
But soon she realized he hadn’t spotted her working her way down the street, ducking behind bushes and burrowing behind trees. If he had, he would have run after her. And she knew he wasn’t because his voice was sounding farther and farther away.
Finally, she rounded the corner back onto her block and made a mad dash for her place. The door was unlocked, thank God. She bolted inside, slammed and locked it behind her, then ran around her place in a frantic search for her keys. But they were gone. Her purse and Hallie’s diaper bag had been turned upside down and the contents strewn everywhere. In fact, he’d messed with most of her stuff—everything from her jewelry box where she kept her extra cash that was now missing to her work computer flashing the log-in screen.
Shit.
Suddenly, Cash stood in the entryway, holding up her key ring with a feral smile. “Looking for these?”
Tessa’s first instinct was to get out of the unit—but he was blocking the door.
Terror gripped her chest as she held Hallie tighter. “Cash… Whatever you’re thinking, don’t do this.”
“Babe. C’mon…” He swerved on his feet. “You heard the police. I have a blank check. It’s past time I put you in your place and remind you who’s boss. Then I’m going to get between those pretty legs again. After that, if you apologize nicely, I might cut you some slack. If not…well, no one is expecting you in the office for over forty-eight hours. A lot can happen in that time.”
Tessa tried not to let fear undo her. “Cash, please…”
“Nah, the time for begging has passed. Put the baby in her crib. Now.”
“A-all right.” Trembling from head to toe, she did as he bid, praying Hallie would be safer alone in her room. After all, Cash wasn’t mad at the baby, just her. “She needs a change and some pajamas.”
He ground his teeth. “Two minutes.”
She didn’t dare drag her feet. She texted Zy that she was trapped in the house with Cash, then tended to Hallie, giving her a fresh diaper and some warm footie pajamas. Then she kissed her daughter’s head as she set the baby in her crib. Instantly, the little girl protested, stomping her feet and holding out her arms, tears welling in her big green eyes.
It nearly tore Tessa apart.
“Shut her up. You’ve got ten seconds.”
That was never going to happen, and Tessa tried not to drown in worry. She kissed her baby, turned on the recorded lullaby she kept cued up to help Hallie calm down at the end of the day, then whispered, “I love you, sweet pea.”
Tessa hoped it wasn’t the last time she said those words.
Then she shut the door behind her and prayed Hallie wouldn’t draw Cash’s ire. No matter what, Tessa would do whatever she could to keep her ex from unleashing his anger on their daughter.
“I-I’m here.”
And while she’d been in Hallie’s room, Cash had clearly shut and locked the front door behind him. Her heart sank. How was Zy ever going to get inside?
Cash sent her a nasty smile as he slurred his speech. “That little note of fear in your voice tells me you might finally understand who’s in charge. Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Say it. So we both know.”
“Y-you are.” God, she hated admitting that.
But Cash clearly loved it. “That’s right. Now come over here, lift your skirt, get on your knees, and open that dirty mouth for my dick.”
A glance told her he was serious. Tessa knew better than to ask what would happen if she didn’t.
Slowly, she approached and started to kick off her shoes.
Cash grabbed her arm. “Keep the heels on. As soon as you lose the rest of your clothes and get on your back, legs spread, they’ll look sexy as fuck. Hmm…” He groaned as he grabbed his obviously stiff cock through his sweatpants.
She felt sick and powerless, terrified and angry—and she hated all of it. But she hated him even more.
He lurched at her, pointing her way, and Tessa could smell the booze pouring off him. “Oh, I see your face. Don’t start feeling sorry for yourself. You’ve earned this by thinking that you’re in charge and keeping me from banging you. But that all changes tonight.”
“You’re never like this when you’re not drinking.”
“I’m not myself when I’m sober. I’m a sniveling pussy. I worry about stupid things like being polite and your ridiculous female feelings. But when I have vodka, I’m free. And I see things much more clearly. You and I live under the same roof, and you’ve already had my baby. That makes you mine, and if I want to fuck you, I’ll fuck you. I’m not going to tell you again. Get over here, lift your skirt, get on your knees, and open that dirty fucking mouth.”
If she did, he’d use her horribly at best. At worst…he really might kill her.
God, she didn’t want to die, not when her death would leave Hallie alone. She still had so much life in front of her, and right now she wished like hell she’d taken the opportunity to tell Zy that she thought he was strong, amazing, wonderful, and that she was sorry she’d ever let Cash back in her house because she didn’t love her baby daddy. She loved him.
She had to think of something. Anything. This couldn’t happen. Sure, Zy would be here, probably in less than two minutes. But without a way to get in her house and without any support from the police, she was doomed unless she could get herself out of this scrape.
“Do you want me to get you more vodka?” If he drank himself into a stupor, she’d be able to slip away. “Your bottle is empty and—”
“No, I want you to stop stalling and give me a blow job, you stupid cunt.” He lunged at her and grabbed her arm in a cruel grip. She gasped as he jerked her against his body. Then he tangled his hand in her hair and pulled on the strands mercilessly, seeming to take delight in her chin trembl
ing in fear and the tears filling her eyes. “Oh, I like you afraid of me. I should have done this sooner. Just like I should have done this.”
He grabbed the front of her blouse with both hands and pulled. Fabric ripped, buttons pinged, and the cool air that had come in with the open door breezed across her chest. Tessa tried to wrest free, but Cash grabbed hold of her bra, working his fingers under the band just between her breasts. “You’re not going anywhere until I’m done with you.”
Then he shoved her to her knees as he bent to hike her skirt up. Once he’d wedged it around her hips, he grabbed her hair once more, anchoring her in place. With his free hand, he worked at the drawstring of his sweatpants, lust and power gleaming in his bleary eyes, his fist tightening painfully at the strands at her nape when it took too long to undo the knot. Finally, he loosened the ties, shoved his pants around his hips, and took his cock in hand, guiding it toward her mouth.
Every instinct told her to turn her head or bear down with her teeth. But if she did either, what would he do to her? To her daughter?
While she tried to think of some way to escape, he jammed the blunt tip of his penis against her lips in warning. “Open up. And make it good.”
God, she didn’t want to do this…but she didn’t see a way out. For that alone, she’d hate Cash forever.
As she sat frozen in indecision, she heard a jangling, followed by the slide of metal. Then the door crashed in. The knob banged against the wall of her foyer.
Relief surged when she saw Zy fill the doorway, looking strong and furious and hell-bent on saving her.
He charged in their direction. “Let her go.”
Cash blanched and cursed, frantically yanking his pants up to cover his junk. “How the fuck did you get in here?”
“Key.” Zy pocketed the shiny object, giving him two free hands, which he curled into fists that promised pain if Cash didn’t relent.
“You gave him one?” Cash hissed as he yanked mercilessly on her hair.
“No.” That was the truth, but she was so grateful that he’d apparently swiped hers and copied it. She’d think about why later.
Cash sneered at Zy. “Then leave it here and get the fuck out. We’re busy getting busy.”