Part 25 (2/2)

Heading into the kitchen, I notice the fridge already open and a body bent over in it.

”h.e.l.lo?” I ask curiously, and a head slams into the top of the fridge as Damon emerges, cursing under his breath.

”Sorry,” I chuckle out, and he grins oddly while staggering backwards.

He must have hit his head pretty hard.

”Please don't be sorry. I just didn't expect anyone else to be up. I needed some pie.”

I smile as I pull down two plates.

”So do I,” I say softly, and he smirks while walking over with the pie in hand.

”So, As.h.i.+ara, how is it my son can keep his hands off you?”

Wow. Skip the small talk, why don't you.

”Um, I really don't know what to say to that.”

I smell the stout, pungent stench of soured alcohol radiating from his body. There's more, too-I just don't know what. He isn't just acting drunk, he's acting high. I've only ever seen a few people on drugs, but he definitely fits the bill.

”I don't mean to sound so crude, it's just, d.a.m.n. You're a beautiful piece of work. How much does it cost to keep you in his bed, and how much more would it cost to get his d.i.c.k in you again.”

Whoa.

”I think I'll skip the pie. I've lost my appet.i.te.”

I start to walk out, but he grabs me at the elbow and jerks me back, his breath suffocating me as he leans in far too close.

”Damon, let me go.”

”I'm just trying to talk to my grandson's mother. What's so wrong with that?” he slurs out.

His eyes are wild, the devil nesting in their glaze, and he moves in to pin me against the wall.

”Damon, stop, please. You don't want to do this. You're just f.u.c.ked up.”

He laughs wildly.

”f.u.c.ked up? d.a.m.n you sound s.e.xy saying that word.”

I feel the bile rising to the back of my throat as his lips try to reach mine. I'm pus.h.i.+ng with all my strength to force him off me, but I'm not strong enough. If this b.a.s.t.a.r.d touches me, I'll f.u.c.king kill him.

”Damon, Tag will kick your a.s.s for this,” I growl as I turn my head away to try to catch a breath his disgusting secretion hasn't tainted.

He laughs maliciously, as his hips press harder against me and his hand grabs my breast.

”Honey, do you have any idea how many of Tag's girls I've f.u.c.ked? They all want two things - money and d.i.c.k. I've got both. My son's wealth is my wealth, and they know it. Same as you. I promise I'll help you relax in ways you've never imagined.”

He grabs my a.s.s and starts tugging at my shorts, his body moving enough to give me a little mobility, and I knee him in the crotch as hard as I can. His air leaves his lungs in a harsh, loud breath, and I start running toward the bedroom.

I cry out as he jerks me by the hair, and then I slap the floor hard with a loud cras.h.i.+ng thud.

”You f.u.c.king c.u.n.t!” he blares. ”Hold still.”

”No!” I scream as he starts trying to pull my shorts down. ”No! No! Please, no!”

Before he can touch me anywhere else, his body is ripped off mine and goes flying against the wall. My eyes can't adjust to the dark of the living room at first, but when they do, I see Tag's fist colliding with Damon's face over and over.

”Tag!” Wren screeches as he leaps over a coffee table. ”Dude, stop. You'll kill him.”

Tag doesn't stop, and it takes Wren and Billy to pull him off before the b.l.o.o.d.y pulp left of Damon collapses to the floor, still breathing.

”f.u.c.king piece of s.h.i.+t,” Tag growls through gritted teeth before kicking the unconscious lump in the gut.

He rips free from Billy and Wren's grasp as Shannon dives to be at my side.

”Holy s.h.i.+t, Ash. Are you okay?” she gushes as she smoothes my hair from my face.

”I'm fine,” I hoa.r.s.ely release as my whole body shakes from the adrenaline high.

Tag kneels beside me and scoops me up to pull me to his body. He carries me over to the couch and sits down to nestle me onto his lap.

”Call the cops,” he says to Wren, who nods while pulling out his phone. Then he turns to me. ”What all did he do to you?”

The guilt in his face makes me force back the terror and nerves begging to break free in a feverish flood of tears.

”Nothing. You got here in time,” I mutter while wrapping my arms around his neck.

He pulls me closer, and I bury my face in his neck as he holds me. I would have never in all my life thought an embrace could be this comforting, but then again, I've never truly loved someone the way I do him.

Tag ”You guys just don't have a lot of luck, do you?” the detective asks.

”Not really. What's going to happen to him?” I ask as they load the b.l.o.o.d.y mess of a man into the back of a squad car, just a few bandages in place to show where I've been.

”Attempted rape is pretty serious. It'll be up to a jury. I a.s.sume she'll be pressing charges.”

Rape.

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