Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (red seas under red skies txt) 📗

winding me on the edge of the bench before spinning me and throwing me across the kitchen. I slam into the fridge hard, more wind getting knocked from me, making it impossible to breathe. Tears flood my eyes as my lungs scream for air.

Mike takes his time to reach me, obviously still in pain from my dick punch, so I pick up the knife I dropped just in time to take a slice at his hand and arm when he reaches for me.

“You fucking bitch. You’re not coming out of this alive, Ali. I’m going to fuck every hole you have and then carve more holes with that fucking knife and fuck them until you’ve been dead for hours. By the time anyone finds you, they won’t even recognise you!”

The venomous yell from Mike sends chills over my skin and takes more of what little breath I can get in. The good thing about his scream is that someone has to have heard it.

I’m still trapped, cornered in Val’s kitchen. I need to get this fight outside, preferably out the front, away from Val and closer to other people. I stagger to stand and look around frantically, trying to figure a way out of this kitchen.

As if sensing my train of thought, Mike hisses like a snake, and I see his fist at the last second before pain slices through my skull, and everything goes black.

I’ve been here before. Been in this place of nothingness. It’s just as peaceful as it was last time; the only difference is me. I’m not the same person as I was last time when I felt like giving up. When I felt like I had nothing but my shame to live with.

This time, my heart pumps with determination. With love. With purpose. This time, I am strong!

My eyes fly open, and Deja vu hits. Mike is standing over me, although this time I’m not naked. My hoodie is gone, and so is my top. Right now, he’s tugging my pants down over my feet, leaving me in my bra and knickers laying on the hard surface of the large fancy dining table.

I lay still, closing my eyes again, so he doesn’t notice, biding my time until I can strike. I hold my breath when I feel his rough, callused hand glide up my leg and rub over a place I only ever want Ayden to touch. I’m not strong enough to bite back my whimper, and upon hearing it, he digs his fingers into the fabric of my knickers.

I bolt upright, my hands grabbing for Mike's head, and I latch onto his cheek, sinking my teeth in, blood filling my mouth. He wails in pain and lifts me, making me lose my grip and throws me as if I weigh nothing at all. My body skims the surface of the island bench, and I land hard on the tile floor, mere feet from Val’s still unmoving form.

“When are you going to accept your fate bitch?” Mike growls, coming around the bench and leaping on me, pinning me to the ground. The taste of his blood still coats my tongue, and I gag when I see the dangling flesh of his cheek as it hangs by a thread. “You’re going to pay for all the trouble you have caused.” Mike’s threat is followed by his hand gripping the side of my head. He spits in my face and then lifts my head, only to slam it back onto the hard floor.

I immediately see stars, unexplainable pain shooting through my skull, and nausea rolls my stomach. The impact affects my entire body, and I can’t seem to move. I try to scream, but I can’t find my voice.

Holy shit! I’m going to die. This is it. This is the moment when my life, that I just started to see a hopeful future in, ends.

I can hear Mike hissing venom at me, but the ringing in my ears is too loud, and his rough hand slaps my face. The action shifts my head, and I can see Val now. She looks peaceful, like she’s asleep, but her skin is so pale. If she’s not already dead, then she’s not far off.

I’m sorry, Valarie. I never wanted you to get hurt.

Rough hands wrap around my throat and squeezes, and right when I accept that I’m about to die, the hands vanish, and so does the weight on my body. I still can’t move, and I try to hear over the ringing in my ears. I think I can hear yelling. Things are smashing.

I try with all I have to move but can’t. Something warm and wet is soaking my back. It feels too thick and oozy to be anything else but blood. I must be bleeding from somewhere. Maybe that’s why I’m feeling faint.

“Lexi!”

My name! Someone is calling my name.

“Lexi!”

I hear it again, but I can’t turn my head to see who it is.

“Get up, Lexi! Run!”

There’s the voice again.

It’s not Ayden’s voice.

It’s not Officer’s Zimora or Reynolds voices.

Wait! I can hear sirens. They are very distant, but I can hear them.

My body gets jolted as a form lands next to me, blocking my view of Val.

“Lexi! Run!”

That face! It’s Muz. I try to answer him and tell him I can’t move, but no sound will come out of my mouth.

Mike comes into view, reaching down and punching Muz in the face. Blood sprays from the impact, going in my eye. I blink rapidly, trying to clear the red from my vision, but it doesn’t help. Everything is tinted red. Muz returns punches to Mike as the sirens get louder.

Yes, Muz! Kill him!

The metallic smell of blood engulfs my senses, and my head starts to spin. I try to force my eyes to stay open, try to keep my eyes trained on Muz and his fierce fight against my brother. It’s no use, though. Blackness dots my vision and starts to tunnel my view. My eyes drift closed,