Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54817 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
I can’t lose her. I can’t.
18
GRACE
I whimper as I feel a harsh sting against the side of my face. I force my eyes to open just in time to watch Benny slap the side of my face again. His other hand grabs my chin, his fingers pressing painfully into my flesh. I feel woozy. It’s similar to how I felt earlier when I woke up in the van. I can vaguely remember Benny’s henchmen chloroforming me with an old rag before throwing me into a vehicle.
“It's about time you woke up, you conniving bitch,” he hisses at me. A look of pure hate covers his face, chilling me to the bone. I never wanted to see Benny again. I stupidly thought I was protected from his return. I should have known better.
“Benny,” I whisper, my voice weak and hoarse.
He pulls my face toward him, his grip still firm with a bruising force. “Where’s my son?” he growls, twisting my head painfully to the side as he bends down, filling my vision with nothing but him.
“You don’t have a son,” I yell back, ignoring the fear rising inside of me. There’s a very big chance that Benny will kill me, but as long as he doesn’t get his hands on Asher, I will accept my death. My son is all that is important.
“It seems you’ve tried to grow a backbone while I’ve been locked up. Maybe you need a reminder of who owns you, Grace.”
“You’re nothing to me. Just an overgrown bully who gets his rocks off hurting women. You’re getting nowhere near my son!” I yell and despite the pain I feel, I make fists like my instructor has taught me and begin hitting him. My hits are weak because of everything I’ve gone through, but I open my hand and scrap down the side of his face with my nails, feeling satisfaction as I draw blood.
“You fucking cunt,” he screams. He backhands me so hard against the side of my face that I am instantly dazed. I do my best to ignore it, twisting my body so I can yank my head free from his hold. Then, I do something stupid. I spit in Benny’s face. He jerks back. I know he’s shocked because the old me would have never tried to fight back. I’m not the person I used to be. In the few seconds he takes to jump back and try to wipe his face, I grab at Benny’s groin, trying to claw and squeeze anything that might hurt. I know from experience that Benny is always commando. He also wears relaxed fit slacks. That allows me to grab him by the balls—at least I think I have done that. I yank hard and squeeze. Benny lets out a guttural yell and grabs my shoulders, shaking me. I hold on tightly regardless, digging my nails in—refusing to let go. He brings his hand back and slaps me, but I still don’t let go. I start trying to twist more while squeezing harder. His hit is hard, but I’m fueled by adrenaline. I doggedly refuse to let go.
“I hate you!” I scream. “You’re never getting my son!”
“You stupid cunt!” he grabs my hair, forcing my head back. His hand clamps over my mouth as he tries to push me away from him. I sink my teeth into his hand. I’m not very successful, but I think I still manage to cause him pain when he immediately moves his hand. My victory is short-lived, however. I can see his fist draw back, and I know my fighting is coming to an end. I contract my hand, squeezing as hard as I can as his fist closes in. I shut my eyes tightly, knowing the hit is going to come. I welcome it. I know it will put me out and that’s safer than being alert around Benny. Before he connects, I send up a prayer that no matter what happens, my son is safe and far away from Benny.
I never want this monster near my son …
19
FORD
I sit in my truck in front of the diner Grace works at, getting ready to go inside to pick up her son. I called her boss and explained that her ex is in town and has Grace against her will. I assured him I’m handling it, but I needed to make sure that Asher was safe. It took a lot of work, and finally I had to call in a favor with the local police to visit Joe at his house. He agreed I could have Asher, if and only if Asher agreed he wanted to go with me. I’m fairly confident he will, but if he refuses, I’ll just have to put men on Joe’s house and move in for a bit. That’s all I can do. I know without a doubt that Grace’s ex will come after his son. I’m going to protect him, and I will get his mother back.