Full Contact (Worth the Fight #2) - Sidney Halston Page 0,50

a chance to unlock the door. Her heart sank. Over the last few months she’d imagined coming face-to-face with Dennis again, and in that scenario she was a badass, self-assured woman who would never be a victim again. But the reality was that he was here and she was cowering in her own home.

“I said sit!”

Robotically, she walked over and sat on the bed, but as far away as she could.

“You looked better when we were dating.”

“Yeah? The black eye made me look better?” As soon as she said it she regretted it. She shouldn’t goad him.

He took a deep breath. “You overreacted, Jessica.” He stood up, towering over her and making her feel like a child being reprimanded. He ran his hand down his face. “You shouldn’t have fought back that night. All it did was make me angrier. And now look. I’m facing prison time because of you and your little boyfriend.”

“What do you want, Dennis?”

“It’s been difficult to find a way to talk to you, since you’re never alone. I’ve been leaving you hints. Hoped you’d get the picture and make some time for me.”

“Hints?” As soon as the word left her mouth she knew. “The sunflowers! You’re the only one who knows I hate sunflowers.”

“Ah, there’s a brain in there somewhere.”

“And what exactly did you want to talk to me about? I think everything’s been said.”

“I came to tell you that you are not going to testify against me.”

“Excuse me?”

“You, my lovely, will not be testifying against me.” He reached down and ran the back of his cold hand against her cheek. Her skin crawled at the contact, and she began to feel nauseous.

“And if I don’t agree?”

“Don’t forget that I know a lot of things. For example, I know that your boyfriend can’t fight anymore. I know that one blow to the head and he’s done.” He grabbed her ponytail and pulled hard. “I swear to you, he won’t see it coming. Do you believe that?” She tried to nod, but his grip was too tight. Tears leaked out of her eyes. “And you will not tell him about this conversation. I may not be a professional fighter, but he’s no match for a two-by-four to the back of his skull while he’s out for his evening jog. I’d probably wait for him…” Dennis looked up to the ceiling as if he was thinking. “On the corner of Eighth and Walnut Street. One blow, Jessica. And it will be all your fault.” He let her go and walked slowly around the room. “If you testify against me, I’ll go to jail. And as you can imagine, that’s not going to happen. Do you understand? I will not stand having this bullshit even go to trial. It will ruin my political career. Are you willing to risk your boyfriend’s life?”

“You’re bluffing.”

“You prepared to play those odds?”

“You almost killed me,” Jessica retorted furiously. “You don’t deserve to be out with the rest of the normal population.”

“You little bitch. You think people are going to believe you? You, whoring yourself through town with that Neanderthal and his posse of hoodlums?”

“Neanderthal? Hoodlums? Slade owns a very reputable professional fighting academy. And by hoodlums, do you mean Jack Daniels, this town’s distinguished cop? Wait, did you just call me a whore?”

“And a bitch.”

Her mouth opened in shock.

“You think that after all those years together I don’t know you? How your mind works?” He made a tsk-tsk-tsk noise. “If I threaten you, you’ll testify. You’re too proud, and you probably feel some bullshit need to see me in prison. But if I threaten your friends…well, you won’t want to see them hurt or involved in the shit storm you’re about to send their way. Plus…” He stepped closer to her, reaching out to caress her face. “You always were a good lay, and I don’t want that asshole fucking what’s mine. Some other asshole, I wouldn’t give a fuck, but I have a beef with Martin.”

“You’re crazy. I’m not playing your sick game. Get out of my house!” She pointed toward the door.

Dennis was not as big as Slade, but he was about six feet tall, ran five miles every morning, and did weight training four times a week. He grabbed her by the neck with one hand. Her eyes watered, and she couldn’t breathe or speak. “You think you’re going to dictate how this is going to go? I’m still the front-runner for congressman in the next election—even with your