Never Far Away (The Never #2)(66)
She weaved through the crowds of people, holding her drink slightly above her head, trying to avoid having it knocked around and spilled. She tried to politely say “Excuse me,” a few times, but was met with irritated glances and people grumbling as she tried to make her way through. She sighed a little as she made her way past a couple groping each other against the wall. She tried to keep the disgusted look from her face, but was caught off guard as a hand grasped her around her arm.
She yelped as she felt her body being yanked to the side, coupled with the cold blast as her drink came down on to the front of her shirt, the sting of the ice cold liquid soaking into her top stole her breath. Before she could see who had a hold of her, she was thrust down a dark hallway and pushed face first into a wall. Two strong hands grasped her arms, pushing her into the wall, making it impossible for her to move. Her face was smashed against the brick wall, the sharp edges of the grainy stone scraping along her cheek. Fear licked through her veins. She was paralyzed by it and could do nothing to try and free herself.
A body pressed up against her, forcing her even further into the wall. A small whimper of fear made it past her lips, but nothing more.
“Ella.”
She immediately began to struggle against the voice, a voice so familiar, so unforgettable. Her body revolted against his as it remembered the last time he’d had his hands on her. She opened her mouth, finally feeling the urge to scream, but his hand clamped over it, squeezing hard, muffling her cries.
“Ella, not this again. Be quiet and I won’t hurt you. I don’t want to have to hurt you.” She tried to hold back a sick laugh as she realized the irony of his words while her face was being smashed into a wall. She felt him still against her and slowly the pressure on her mouth weakened, as if he were testing whether or not she would scream if he removed his hand. She breathed fiercely. Her breath rushed in and out of her nose, hitting his hand and making a muffled sound. She shouldn’t be able to hear her own breath over the loud music, but she focused on the sound of her breath in and out, trying to remain calm.
“No screaming,” Kyle said as he slowly took his hand from her mouth. She ran her tongue over her lips, trying to bring some life back to her mouth after his harsh pressure on it. “You’re hard to get alone these days, Ella.”
“What do you want, Kyle?” She rasped. He laughed and she could feel him shaking his head at her.
“Don’t pretend to be concerned with my wants or needs. Just listen.” He pushed harder against her arms splayed on the wall and brought his mouth right to her ear. “I want your word that you will forget what happened between us, Ella. I know your boyfriend is pushing you to go to the cops, but I want you to drop it.” His fingers squeezed her wrists a little harder and she let out a cry laced with fear. The fear was starting to take her over.
“You’re lucky the cops didn’t catch me outside of your boyfriend’s house the other night. We’d be playing a different game right now if I’d been taken to jail.” She squeezed her eyes tight as his knee came up behind her and pressed into her bottom, nudging her legs open, and pressed into her. Tears threatened to spill out.
“That was you outside the house? You were trying to break in?” Her words were fast and shaking.
“I was trying to get you alone so I could convince you to just let it go.”
“Was it you who shot me?”
He was silent for a moment.
“No,” he finally answered.
“I don’t believe you,” she said.
“Yes, you do. You told Kalli you didn’t think it was me.”
“How do you know Kalli?” Then everything became clear and the fear she had for her own safety was suddenly overshadowed by the fear she had for her friend. “You’re Scott.”
“Well, Kalli thinks I’m Scott,” he said with a laugh. Ella was going to be sick. To think that Kalli had been dating Kyle, had spent time alone with him, let him into her apartment, all because of her. She fought back the bile that threatened her throat.
“I’m telling you right now, Ella, let all of this drop. Tell your boyfriend you don’t want to press charges. Tell your sister and Kalli to just let you move on and I will leave you alone. I will disappear and you will never have to see me again.” He moved close to her again.
“But I swear to f*cking God, if you go to the cops and report me for anything, I will do my best to make you and everyone you care about pay for it.” He laughed again and it sent shivers over her entire body to hear so much evil in him. He ground his hips into her bottom again, and she cried when she felt that he was aroused.
“It seems you’ve become quite the slut lately. Didn’t wait very long before you shacked up with your latest victim. Go use your whorish talents to convince your boyfriend to let everything drop.” She took a deep shuttering breath.
“How can I believe you? How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“I’ve got no reason to lie to you about this. I’ve taken everything I wanted from you. I’ve used you up already. You’re not worth anything to me anymore.” It shouldn’t have hurt her to hear him say those words, but it did.
“You’re a sick f*ck,” Ella said sharply before she could weigh the consequences it might hold.
“Well, you’ve got me there I guess,” he laughed. “Remember this though, Ella. I might be a sick f*ck, but I also don’t give a damn anymore. Don’t give me a reason to make things worse than they already are.”