Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
God.
Why does he have to make it so damned hard?
“I’ve given you so many chances,” I whisper.
He steps forward, placing his hands on my shoulders, a little too close to my neck for my liking. “I’m working so hard on fixing myself for you, Zariah. I won’t hurt you again.”
“You said that last time, and the time before ...”
His fingers tighten a little, a small warning. “I’m not giving up. I’m not going to just let you end this. We’re a family. We have a son together. You’re not going to fuck some biker.”
“I’m not fucking anyone, but even if I was, it’s no longer your business, Reece. We’re over. It has to be done. You need to stop coming here unless it’s to pick up Jayden.”
His eyes flash, and I know, I know the moment the words leave my mouth that I’ve made a mistake. He shoves me, hard, and I stumble backward before slipping and smashing into the cupboard. Reece storms over and grabs me by the hair, and it takes all my strength not to cry out, not to scream. I won’t do that to my son. He hauls me up with one hand and the other hand drives into my ribs where he knocks the wind clean out of me.
I drop to my knees.
Tears burn under my eyelids.
He stares down at me, panting.
I look up at him and rasp in a pained voice, “You won’t hurt me again, huh? You’re a fucking monster. A fucking horrible monster. I hate you. Get out of my house.”
“Zariah,” he says, his face suddenly going back to the compassionate, caring man that I fell in love with. He drops to his knees and grabs me, forcing me into his arms squirming. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly. “I’m so sorry. I just got so angry. I love you so much. I can’t imagine you with someone else. Don’t you understand? Please.”
“Mommy?”
We both look over to see Jayden standing with a big stuffed teddy in his arms. He looks to Reece, and then to me, and then his little lip wobbles.
“It’s okay, buddy,” Reece says, helping me to my feet. “Mommy just slipped over. She’s okay.”
Jayden looks to me, and my heart breaks into a thousand tiny pieces. He’s looking at me for an answer, something that’ll make all his pain go away. I force a smile onto my face and say, “Silly Mommy slipped on some water.”
He shakes his head with a smile. “Silly Mommy!”
With a happy skip, he takes Reece’s hand and leads him into the living area. I turn, gripping the side of the sink as pain radiates through my ribs.
When did I get so damned weak?
When did I let this man control so much of my life?
When did I get so damned pathetic?
I’m worthless.
Utterly worthless.
I PICK UP THE PACE on the treadmill, panting as pain shoots through my sore, bruised ribs. I run until I can’t breathe, until the pain is so unbearable that I am forced to stop. I take my towel and wipe it over my face as I get off the treadmill and make my way toward the locker room. I walk in and immediately I’m assaulted by Kendric sitting on one of the long benches with a woman straddling him. A woman who works here.
She’s got her hands in his hair and they’re making out in a pretty hot and heavy way. His hands are under her shirt, running up and down her back, and she’s moaning every few seconds as they kiss like they’re the last two people on this planet and it’s about to explode. I clear my throat and the woman moves quickly, launching off Kendric’s lap. He makes no attempt to hide the throbbing erection straining in his workout shorts. It’s impressive, I won’t lie.
The man is hung. That much is abundantly clear.
“I’m so sorry, Zariah,” Carly, the personal trainer, tells me with rosy red cheeks. “I thought we were alone this morning ...”
“I’m sure you can find somewhere else to make out. It’s unprofessional,” I mutter, walking over to my locker and taking out my things.
I duck down the side and wipe myself clean as I take off my sweaty top and pull out a clean one. I’m certain I’m alone until I feel a presence come up behind me. I spin around with a small gasp and see Kendric standing, his eyes on the massive black bruise on my ribs. When he looks up at me, I see the kind of rage in his eyes that I’d expect from a father who has just learned their daughter is being beaten. He looks like he’s going to bust a top.
“Who did that to you?”
His voice is demanding and comes out like a whip.
“I’m a cop, Kendric. It happens a lot.”