Catherine’s POV
Only if you let fuck you now.
His words repeated in my head. For a mont, I hoped I didn’t hear him right. My brain was trying to reject the words before they even settled but then Collins watched with twisted smirk plastered on his face, waiting like he expected to actually consider his disgusting offer.
My chest tightened. "Are you out of your mind?" I blurted. It ca out more confused than anything else because that was exactly how I felt. Confused, shocked and utterly disgusted.
He scoffed and crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. "Go ahead and make your choice."
He was being serious? This guy is insane! What the actual hell?
I took a step back, staring at him like he was so sick creature.
"Go fuck yourself," I spat. "I rather die than let you see my panties."
The mont the words hit him, his expression shifted and his nostrils flared like his ego shattered on the spot. The next thing he did was snap, lunging at with full force.
I barely had ti to gasp before he grabbed and yanked toward the bed. His fingers dug into my arms, and his whole body pressed in, trying to pin down. Panic shot through so fast that it blurred my vision.
"Get off !" I scread, pushing, kicking, twisting, doing anything to help get him off.
But he didn’t let go.
Collins was taller and heavier, so every second I struggled, he pulled harder, trying to drag exactly where he wanted .
Fear exploded in while my chest constantly rose and fell.
Since I wasn’t strong enough, I did the next easiest thing. I bit him hard causing him to shout in pain and jerk backward. His grip loosened just enough for to slam my knee into his groin with everything I had.
He collapsed onto the floor with a strangled groan and I ran without waiting for him to recover.
I sprinted out of the room, out of the hallway, through whatever insane maze this "safe house" actually was.
Shit! I was having a difficult ti finding my way around. My hands trembled as I grabbed my phone, trying Gabriel’s line.
Screw it! His line was unreachable.
I swallowed hard, coming to terms with the fact that there was only one other person who I could turn to, even if he was the last person I wanted to call right now.
The first thing I did was share my location with him, before dialling his number. He picked up almost instantly. "Catherine?"
"Julian, I—I need your help," I whispered in a shaky tone. "Please co get . I’m—"
I didn’t get to finish because Collins’ furious roar tore through. "CATHERINE!"
His voice bounced off the walls, closer than I expected, way too close.
On the other end, Julian’s tone hardened. "Was that Collins? Catherine.... answer . Where are—"
I couldn’t risk it. I hung up imdiately, shoved the phone into my pocket, and forced my legs to move.
I turned another corner and darted behind a huge decorative shelf that created a narrow shadowed alcove. It was small, barely big enough for to squeeze into, but it hid .
I pressed my back flat against the cold wall, forcing myself to breathe quietly.
My heart was beating so hard I could feel it in my throat, choking . Even my hands were trembling uncontrollably as I covered my mouth with my palm, trying and begging my body to stay silent.
Collins began to call my na. "Caaatheriiine..."
His voice didn’t hold anger anymore. It turned playful like a predator teasing its prey.
"Co out," he sang in a low, coaxing tone. "No need to hide, I was just ssing around with you. Don’t be scared, baby. Co on."
The mocking sweetness in his voice made bile rise in my throat.
"Catherineeee? Do not make this complicated," he continued, while his footsteps ca slow and deliberate. "I’m not mad anymore. Just co out so we can talk, okay?"
Talk? After trying to force himself on ? He must think I’m a fool.
My eyes burned, my legs felt like they would give out any second. I pressed my shaky hand harder over my mouth, praying he wouldn’t hear the sound of my breathing.
He suddenly beca quiet. It lasted too long but I didn’t trust it.
My heartbeat thudded unevenly in my chest, my ears ringing with the lack of sound. I couldn’t tell where he was. I couldn’t tell if he had left, or if he was standing right in the open, waiting for to step out.
Everything in scread don’t move until my phone suddenly rang. BLOODY HELL!
The ringtone exploded and my entire body went still.
Collins’ laughter rang out instantly in a maniacal manner.
"Oh, sweetheart," he called out, his voice dripping with sick amusent. "I hear you."
His footsteps sped up. He was coming straight toward .
My breath caught painfully inside my chest. I pressed myself harder into the wall, my pulse racing so fast I felt dizzy. I could hear him approaching.
"Ready or not...Here I co."
I didn’t even get the chance to breathe before he found .
His hand wrapped around my wrist and yanked out of my hiding spot. I scread and kicked but he only dragged harder, his grip bruising, his breath hot and angry as he cursed under his breath.
"Let go of !" I cried, trying to pry his fingers off. "Collins, stop—!"
He didn’t quit. He ignored my struggles and tried to drag back to the bedroom. Panic surged up my throat. I kept fighting, while trying to plant my feet on the ground as he forced down the hall.
"COLLINS!" Julian’s voice exploded from the entrance. "Take your filthy hands off her!"
Collins stiffened at the sound of his voice, and I felt the change instantly. His grip loosened, his head turning just slightly and his body tensing, then he scoffed loudly and shoved away from him.
"Oh, perfect," he sneered, turning toward Julian with a sick grin. "The FUCK-MATE stepbrother arrives to rescue his little..... what do you call her? Step-sister-by-day, fuck-buddy-by-night?"
I didn’t even have ti to process the insult because Julian moved fast. He launched across the room and slamd his fist straight into Collins’s jaw. Collins stumbled back, completely caught off guard.
Julian hit him again and again and again.
It was no longer a fight, it was an obliteration. Collins barely had ti to raise his hands before Julian grabbed him by the collar and punched him with the force of soone who had been waiting to lay hands on him.
"Julian, stop!" I cried, my voice trembling. "Julian, please- please stop!"
He didn’t hear or maybe he did and didn’t care.
Julian’s face was twisted with pure rage, every muscle in his arms tensed, and every strike ca harder than the last.
Collins was certainly no match for him. His strength showed only when he was dealing with a lady. He curled into himself, his arms weakly trying to protect his face, but Julian kept hitting him, the blows brutal and relentless.
Blood splattered and Collins’s head hit the ground, a barely audible groan slipping from him.
"JULIAN!" I scread, stepping back. My chest tightened as tears burned my eyes. "Stop! Please stop, you’re going to kill him!"
Julian didn’t stop. He looked like an entirely different person.
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t watch. I couldn’t stand the sound of fists hitting bone, the sight of Collins’s face swelling with every strike, the sar of blood on Julian’s knuckles. It was too much. Too violent.
My stomach churned, and my legs moved before my brain did. I turned and ran out of the house, tears spilling down my cheeks, my throat closing around the sobs I refused to let out.
The mont I stepped outside, the sky growled. A heavy rumble of thunder rolled across the clouds, wind whipped against my skin. I kept walking anyway, wiping my cheeks with the back of my shaking hand. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t know how far the road went but I didn’t even care.
I just needed to get away.
Another roar of thunder ca. I wrapped my arms around myself and kept walking, staring at the gravel road that stretched into nowhere. Everything inside felt like it was collapsing.
Just when the first raindrop hit my cheek, I heard Julian.
"Catherine!" His voice ca from behind , breathless.
I froze but didn’t turn around.
A second raindrop fell and a third. Then the sky opened up completely, releasing a cold, not-so-heavy downpour. The rain soaked through my clothes, chilling my skin.
"Catherine!" Julian called again, closer this ti. "Where the hell are you going?!"
I kept walking, choosing to not answer because my throat felt tight and too choked with emotions.
My hair stuck to my face. My breath ca out in shaky bursts. I just wanted to disappear into the storm.
I heard fast footsteps splashing through puddles behind , the he suddenly grabbed my hand and turned around.
His fingers firmly wrapped around my wrist, his chest rising and falling with harsh breaths. Water dripping down his face.
"Catherine," he said, pushing back his drenched hair. His scraped and bloodied knuckles ca in sight. "Please, you are going to catch a cold, let’s get in the car."
I remained silent.
He stepped closer and lowered his head to et my eyes.
"Catherine," he whispered, softer this ti.
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