“Parading that piece of shit around town,” he sneers, jaw clenching. “Tryin’ to get me all riled up?” His fingers press bruises into my skin. “You’re making it so damn hard to get over you. I put up with your shit for twenty fucking years only for you to throw it back in my face?! You let him touch you everywhere, don’t you? You let him touch what’s mine? Why do you do this to me, baby?”

I’m terrified. However, I’ve fought back before, and I’m sure as hell gonna fight back again. With every ounce of strength in me, I fight. I lunge forward and sink my teeth into the web of his hand, biting until I taste blood.

He yells, pulling back, and I don’t hesitate. I raise my heel and drive it down into his foot with everything I’ve got.

He stumbles with a curse. His grip loosens.

I twist away and run for the door. I’m so close, but his arm hooks around my waist, yanking me back with such force I nearly fall.

He snatches me back and raises his hand to touch me in the only way he ever has. Before I can move, before I can brace myself, a hard smack sends me crashing to the floor, my vision splitting into a thousand broken pieces. The taste of blood floods my mouth. My face burns, my lip stings, my skull pounds, but my body knows this pain. A pain I thought I’d never have to feel again.

I scramble to get up, but Cory is on me again, his grip bruising as he grabs my wrist, lifting me like I weigh nothing. I twist, kicking him, fighting as hard as I can, but the sick bastard grins and then slams me against the wall, knocking the wind out of me.

“Get the hell off me!” I cry, tears blurring my vision.

He leans in with his hot, putrid breath and whispers, “I love it when you fight back. Just like our last night together.”

I nearly break free again, but he grips my wrists above my head.

“I need you to break up with your boyfriend. I can’t have you teasing me like this. I dream about the things I used to do to you, leaving you helpless under my touch.” He murmurs, dragging his eyes down my body. “I bet he can’t keep his hands off you, can he? That’s why he lets you run around town with his kids like a happy family. Does he know you can’t have any? You couldn’t hold my babies for shit.”

He laughs at my pain, at my deepest wound, while grazing his lips over my neck. I try to break away, but he tightens his grip even more.

Then I hear a knock.