Chapter Three:

I pulled up to the house as slowly as possible. I don’t know what to expect. This morning could have been an empty threat. With his track record, it wasn’t a bluff. I feel like I’m going to vomit. I just want to get this over with. I shut off my car and took a deep breath before heading inside.

His car is here, so he should be home.

“Eric?” I called out. I’m just going to face him today. It’s not worth prolonging. I stood still and just listened. I can’t hear him. I walked to my bedroom and set my things down. I went into Eric’s room.

“Hi honey, you’re home.” He smiled and put his hands behind his head. He’s stretched out shirtless. Any other woman would lust over his abs, anyone but me.

“Did you still want to go shopping?” I asked, trying to keep the hope out of my voice. Mischief glittered across his face. He stood up and walked over to me. He caressed my sides and leaned in to breathe on my neck.

“We have other things to tend to first, Angel.” His grip on me tightened instantly. I can feel his fingers bruising my skin. I went into panic mode and clawed at his hands. He laughed and pulled me into his hard body. I elbowed him in his side. He let go of me and I ran. He caught me before I made it through the door. He shoved me into the door frame.

Eric pulled me up before I could fall to the floor. I was thrown onto the bed. I hit my head on the wall on the way down. I grimaced and scrambled to move. He was too fast. I was dizzy and couldn’t focus. He fought to get my clothes off. I clawed his face – he hissed in pain and backhanded me. He got my jeans off. I kicked him, but not hard enough. I rolled onto my stomach and slid off the bed. He dragged me back up by my hair.

“If you don’t cooperate, I’m going to have to bruise that pretty face of yours.” He growled. I stiffened but didn’t stop fighting. It’s already bruised. There’s no way he didn’t mark me when he hit me earlier. I gave it everything I had. After awhile things started to blur. I stopped feeling. I became numb to it all but I never gave up. Something about today is different. He’s so… determined.

I felt him grab my throat. Everything started to go black.

~*.*~

It feels like someone took a sledge hammer and beat my head in with it. I cracked my eyes open and wished I hadn’t. Everything that had happened rushed back to me. I tried to sit up and realized Eric was on me. I was made very aware of the severe pain at my core. I saw him thrusting in and out of me. I couldn’t stop the tears from bleeding down my cheeks. I started hitting him. He didn’t try to stop me just kept going. I scratched at his face and his eyes. He backhanded me again and pinned my wrists.

It felt like hours before he finished. In reality, it was probably minutes. I was frozen. He turned my face to kiss me. I spat in his eyes. He smirked and wiped his face.

“You’re still the best fuck I’ve ever had. Your pussy is so tight.” He winked and got off the bed. He went into the bathroom and checked out his wounds. There are scratches all over his chest. I put a few on his face, too. I’m sure that I look a lot worse than he does.

“I hate you.” I told him. He came out of the bathroom smirking.

“You make it so much fun. I love it when you put up a fight.” He pulled me off the bed, gently. I pulled my hand away from him. Now is when he pretends to care… and in his twisted way, he probably does care. “I got carried away.” He said more to himself than to me. He examined my face. “You’ll have to cover those up.” He told me. I rolled my eyes. Like I didn’t already know that. This is when I’m the safest. What else could he do to me? He got what he wanted and he’s started to feel sort of remorseful. “Go wash up, then we’ll go.” He told me.

I heard him but from a distance. My head was already somewhere else. I feel detached. I was in my room and locking the door before I knew it. I hope he leaves early-ish tonight. Maybe I can persuade Jace to come over. He normally keeps me company half the time while Eric is away. I don’t like staying here alone and I always sleep better while Jace is here.

My shower was over before I knew it. I only got out because the water was cold. I blow-dried my hair and put on some lotion. I set the work covering up the bruises. I’m going to have some explaining to do when Jace sees them. He’s only going to believe that I fell so many times. My entire eye is starting to bruise. It’s going to be a shiner in the morning. I don’t even want to see the rest. The ones on my wrist aren’t so bad. They’re just raw right now. I have dark ones on the inside of my thighs and ones to match on my hips. I can see the finger imprints. I sighed. I put on my undergarments. My back is stinging. I turned and looked in the mirror. I have a red streak where I hit the door. It’s not a bruise yet, but it probably will be.

I opted for comfortable clothing. I put on a pair of dark blue jeggings and a loose v-neck, t-shirt. I put on some concealer on my lip and covered it up the best that I could. It’s busted but it’ll have to do. I grabbed some socks and slipped on my Vans.

I pulled my phone out of my purse and dialed Jace’s number.

“Hello,” he panted.

“Hey, are you busy tonight?” I asked.

“Gel, I’m kind of in the middle of something.” He grunted. I heard someone moan. Oh, jeez. Why does he always answer the phone when he’s in the middle of sex?

“Do you want me to let you go?” I sighed.

“Just make it quick.” He answered, still breathless.

“Can you come over tonight? I don’t think I can handle being alone tonight after he leaves.” I told him. He didn’t say anything for a minute.

“Did something happen?” He asked, suddenly serious.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I evaded.

“Gel, if something –” He started.

“I don’t have time to talk right now. I gotta go. Are you coming later?” I cut him off.

“Yeah, of course. I’m almost done here anyway.”

“Okay. I’ll call you after he leaves. Thanks Jay.” I hung up. Knowing that he’s coming over makes me feel better. I grabbed my bag and went outside to see a waiting Eric. I can’t look at him right now. This isn’t the first time this has happened, but it’s the first time in a long while that he’s went that far. I don’t feel any less violated. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I can’t get clean.

“Do you want to grab dinner?” He finally asked. I shook my head. He kept looking at me.

“No, I’m not hungry. Let’s just find you clothes.” I told him.

“Not just me, I’m treating you, Angel. I’ll get you whatever you want.”

“You can’t buy me.” I told him, still avoiding his face.

“That’s not what I’m trying to do.” He argued. He finally lost his smile. I can see his reflection.

“Then you won’t mind when I put a dent in that bank account of yours.” And that’s exactly what I did. I helped him pick out his suits and anything and everything that was cute and in my size, I bought – and in different colors. I dragged him to Sinister Soles and bought too many pairs of shoes. By the time we were finished I didn’t feel any better and the car was filled with bags and boxes. But I did feel satisfied at the amount of damage I did with his money. He’s too rich for his own good, so it’s nothing he’ll miss.

“Are you going to ignore me all night?” He finally asked. I shrugged. I didn’t say anything that I didn’t have to. “I’m going to get packed and I expect conversation while I’m doing it.” He told me after he helped me carry all the bags to my room. I finished putting everything away and met him in his room. “Be careful while I’m away – I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He told me. I snorted.

“That’s rich, coming from you.” I told him. His eyes gleamed. He’s always hated my sarcasm but I have given him what he wanted – a response.

“Whether you believe it or not, I do care about you.” He told me. I shrugged.

“You have a shitty way of showing it.”

“It’s the best way I know how.”

“Raping your stepdaughter is a strange way of showing it.” I told him, finally meeting his gaze.

“We all have our faults, Angel.” He told me. I didn’t say anything else I just watched him pack. He came over to me and pulled my face to his. He kissed me, softly. He held me and for a minute it felt like he actually cared. He let go and I followed him to the door. “I’ll see you in a month, Angela.” He told me. I nodded. “I love you.” He told me.

“No, you don’t.” I shut and locked the door. I watched him leave. He’s finally gone after all of it.

I texted Jace and asked him to come over. I got a response almost instantly.

See you in ten, Gel.

I smiled at my phone. I got online and ordered pizza. I don’t want to cook anything and I know that I need to have some sort of food in my system.

The doorbell rang. I looked through the peephole. I opened the door and let Jace in.

“Hey killer, what’s up?” He asked, walking to my room. He put his stuff down and saw the empty bags littering the floor. “Damn, when you shop, you really go to town, don’t you?” He laughed. I shrugged.

“I’m glad you’re here.” I told him. “Sorry, I interrupted your booty call.” I teased. He rolled his eyes.

“You mean more to me than mediocre pussy.” He smiled. I laughed. He gave me a hug and started rubbing my back. I winced. He noticed. “What happened? And don’t lie to me.” He pulled away and looked at me. I shrugged.

“Nothing that you’re better off not knowing.” I told him.

“Did he hurt you?” He asked.

“It doesn’t matter.” I deflected.

“Bullshit. You’re tiny and you’d never hurt a soul. Of course it matters.” He argued.

“I’m out in six months. I can deal with him until then.” He told me.

“Why won’t you just tell me?”

“Because he’d kill you.” I told him. Tears started cascading down my face. “What he does to me is enough. I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt because of me. I’m not worth it. This isn’t worth it.” I whispered.

“You’re worth everything.” He helped me to the bed and pulled me onto his lap. He just held me and let me cry. “What does he do?” He asked. I bit my lip. I can’t tell him everything. He’d never let it stand. It isn’t his fight. Instead I climbed off of his lap and went to the bathroom. I washed the makeup off of my face and stripped out of my clothes. I left my bra and underwear on. He wants to see, then I’ll let him see, but I’m not telling him the extent that he takes it to. I walked out of the bathroom and just stood in front of him. He stood up and just looked at me. I closed my eyes. I don’t want to see his pity. I can take a lot but I can’t take pity. That’s all I got after my mom died. I can’t deal with that again. “Oh, my God. He – Angela, why? Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve… Gel…”

I finally looked up. He looks so hurt. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I can’t keep hiding it from him. I need someone to know. It’s so hard being strong alone.

“I couldn’t tell you. It’s not as bad as it looks.” I lied. He shot me a look that shut me up. The doorbell went off. “That’s the pizza.” I told him. He left to go get it. He brought it back into the room and set it down.

“When did it start?” He asked.

“A few years ago.” I told him. He looks so torn up. I feel awful.

“I’m not going to let him hurt you anymore.” He promised.

“You can’t stop him.”

“I can stop him before it goes too far. If he threatens you, don’t come home. You can stay with me.” He tried. I nodded. It sounds nice in theory, but normally I can’t leave.

“Okay. Can you just hold me tonight?” I asked.

“Of course. You’re my best girl.”

Notes

I'll try to have another chapter up tomorrow.:)