Cherry Creek - Dani Matthews Page 0,1

talk to me.”

“Can you come back later? I have to go to work,” I say cautiously. If he comes back later, my mom will be home.

“I can’t. I have to be home for dinner. Please, Livvy,” he coaxes as I watch his eyes scan the door, waiting to see if I’ll open it.

A soft sigh of resignation escapes me, because I know how this will play out if I don’t let him in. He’s not going to go away, and if I open the door to leave, he’ll just follow me to the bus stop at the street corner. In fact, he’ll probably follow me the entire way to work. “If I let you in, do you promise to leave after you’ve had your say?”

“I promise,” he says immediately.

“Swear it to me, Brad.”

“I swear.”

With great reluctance, I unlock the door and swing it open. I’m hoping my boss doesn’t fire me for being late today. I give Brad a warning look. “I can only spare five minutes. I’m late for work as it is.”

He nods, his blue eyes lighting up when he sees me. He smiles hugely. It’s a smile that causes me to feel like I need to stay on guard with him. He looks like he’s entered a candy shop, and he can’t wait to eat everything he can get his hands on. I’m perfectly aware that I’m the candy. I quickly step back to put some space between us.

Brad steps inside and calmly shuts the door. I watch warily as he turns on me, his eyes shining brightly with crazed happiness. “I knew you’d see me. You still love me.”

I bite my lip. “Brad, it’s over,” I say softly.

“No, it’s not. I can change. I’ll do better. I’ll do whatever you want,” he tells me as he takes a step forward.

I back away from him until I’m in the middle of the living room. “I can’t give you what you need. You need to find someone who can give you…more. I just can’t.”

Anger flickers across his features. “I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”

“Brad…”

He begins to walk towards me with bloodshot eyes that don’t seem to blink. They are wide open and locked on me with an intensity that makes my heart begin to pound. “I just want to touch you. To hold you. I just need to feel you. I’ll show you just how right it is.”

Panic rises within me, and I dart back, avoiding his reaching hands. “Brad, you have to leave.”

“NO! I will show you that you’re mine. Mine, Livvy. You can’t just shut me out,” he growls as he lunges for me.

A shriek of alarm escapes me as I scramble to avoid him, but his hand latches on to my arm, and I find myself dragged into his waiting arms. I struggle immediately, trying to free myself. Brad works out at the local gym on a regular basis though, and he’s strong.

His face is now flushed as he peers down at me, fury now replacing desperation. “There’s someone else, isn’t there?”

My futile struggles cease as I look up at him with surprise. “No, there’s no one else. Why would you think that?”

“There is, isn’t there? I knew it! He can’t have you. No one can,” he says harshly. He releases me abruptly, only to place his hands around my neck before I can dart away.

When his hands begin to squeeze tightly, my eyes widen with dismay. Then, it’s quickly replaced with terror. I try to scream, but nothing escapes my throat. I can’t even breathe. I tear at his hands, my nails scratching and tearing open skin, but he doesn’t seem aware of the blood I’ve drawn.

I stare up at him as a roaring sensation fills my ears. His blood shot eyes are focused on mine, and they are now blank. Sweat has beaded across his forehead, and his muscles are tense as he puts all his strength into trying to crush my windpipe.

I’m going to die.

Brad’s going to kill me.

The pain in my throat is what cuts into my panic. It grounds me and calms me, if that’s even possible. It causes me to take a moment to think rather than panicking further. I do the only thing I’ve heard over and over again when people talk about self-defense for women. I lift my knee and slam it into his groin as hard as I can.

Brad howls, his hands immediately releasing my neck.

Precious oxygen floods my lungs, and it hurts, but