My Demons (The Angel Trilogy #2) (17 page)

I press my hands against the wall of the shower enjoying the hot water as I catch my breath. I didn’t realize the need I had for release was so strong and
damn
did I need that.

I continue with my shower lathering my body with the body wash. My eyes wonder to the light that beams in through the windows.

Maybe he had work to do? I know that he does some crazy stuff for work sometimes, maybe he just can’t call me. Yea, that’s it. I can’t worry about him. He’s ok and he’ll be home soon. I know he’ll be disappointed if he goes home and I’m not there.
Shit! I hadn’t thought about that.
Maybe I should go home? It doesn’t really feel like my home. I take a deep breath as I rinse away the suds.

I wrap a towel around my body and toss my hair in another towel. I stop in front of the vanity looking at the pale display reflected in the mirror. “Oh God, I do need to get out of this house.” I sigh.

I slather the moisturizer on my face and toss the towel that holds snug to my body toward the shower door. I enter the enormous closet and snag my workout top and pants from the shelves. I’m ready in no time, just needing to brush out my hair and tie it up on top of my head.

“What’s the plan?” Amy questions entering my room without knocking. I roll my eyes. Some things will never change with this girl.

“Umm, I don’t know. I guess we run and hang out.” I shrug as I toss my wet hair into a messy bun.

“Yea, we’ll just see what happens I guess. Wait, can you run yet?” She points.

Oh my God, if one more person asks me a question like that I’m going to snap. I’m seriously PMS-ing lately, and I don’t have the patience for this. “I guess.” I fake a smile.

“Damn, your bitchy, doll.”

Amy’s wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt. Her hair’s held in a high pony and she’s adorable. Very Barbie-like.

“Let’s go.” I grab for my phone that’s hidden behind a pillow where I’d thrown it earlier and flip the light switch closing the door behind me.

“I can’t keep up with you, hold on,” Amy huffs out of breath.

I slow my pace and look behind me. “Out of shape are you?” She isn’t out of energy because she’s out of shape. She’s out of energy because she hasn’t kept anything down, but she isn’t going to admit that to me. Amy is my rock and she knows it. I’m sure she’s feeling overwhelmed, but I’m a big girl and I have to find my own footing.

Honestly, it’s time she stops using my problems as an excuse for something, that if she doesn’t stop soon is going to kill her. Eating disorders aren’t something that I have any real knowledge of, but I think it’s time to tell my parents because this is something I think
they
can help with. I love Amy and I know that they love her too.

I want to call her out on it. I know that I kind of did earlier, but I mean call her out in an intervention kind of way. I think it would be best to let my parents do that because I feel like this is way too dangerous a situation for me to just jump in and save the day. I’m in no way capable of saving anyone’s day right now.

Amy’s holding her side, something she never would’ve had to do while running if she had been taking care of herself. I know she’s depleting her body and it scares the shit out of me.

I’ve slowed my pace way down and I feel my heart rate slowing with the gentle pace. Sweat’s running down my neck and I feel it pool between my breast. I see a fountain about fifty-feet away so I head that way.

“Wow, I need to get back in shape, I guess.” She raises her brows catching her breath as we stop. “What?” she asks in defensive mode.

I shake my head sipping the water from the fountain. I reach down to re-tie my shoe, wondering when my life will be drama free for more than a day. I see this going to a dark corner of the universe and I’m scared for her.

Amy’s phone buzzes and she reaches into her pocket to answer it. She walks away to speak to whoever it is, and I wonder why.

I stand to stretch out my very overworked body.

“Ready?” she asks.

“I guess.” I shrug.

“I have something that I have to do tonight, rain check?” She bats her eyes in my direction, hoping I’ll forgive her for ditching me.

“Umm sure, what’s up?”

“I just have something to do, no biggie.” Well, I guess it’s another night alone in my room sounds good anyway. I smile grateful to some length.

Since I haven’t been allowed to drive, Amy had driven us to the park. Amy’s quiet on the walk back to her car. When we reach the red, two-door Audi, I reach for the door looking over my shoulder when I hear another car parking next to me.

What I see has me questioning my sanity. A gray sedan with dark windows holds the spot next to us. This is very similar to the car that I’ve seen many times in the last few months. I try not to make direct eye contact with my reflection shining right back at me from the window and instead quickly turn and get into the car. A chill runs through my body and I know I need to get away. I don’t know why I feel like this, but I know I should worry.

“I really need to…” I hear Amy talk, but I’m not paying attention as she goes on about something. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow and we’ll do something fun,” I catch the last part of what she says.

“Umm… yeah, I guess.” My nerves are in knots now.

“You ok, doll?” She turns her head questioning my sudden mood shift. “You’re white as a ghost.”

“Yeah, I’m good.” I don’t want to worry her.

The drive home is filled with a lot of Pink and Fergie. I like them, but it’s not what I listen to so much. I prefer listening to Christina Perry or Jem. As she pulls up in the driveway, I see my parents getting into my father’s car. When they see us, they both step back out. I grab my bag and open the door. “Hey.” I wave.

“We’ll be back soon. Frank’s left you something to eat in the oven and he and Sue are off the rest of the night.”

Finally some alone time.
“Sounds great.” I smile.

My mom pulls my face to hers kissing my forehead. “You’ll be all right?” She eyes me.

I nod. “Defiantly.”

“Great. We will see you later, baby girl.” She opens the door sitting in her seat.

Amy has already gone into the house. I watch as my dad’s car pulls out of the driveway and then walk to the front doors. My phone dings in my bag.

Unknown:
When you least expect it, you’ll get what you deserve.

Are you fucking kidding me? Shit, I think I need to show someone these messages. Before I even have a chance to take a deep breath from the crazy text my phone rings showing Marco’s name and I wonder if I should answer it.

The screen reads Marco’s name and I wonder if I should answer it. “Hello?” I hesitate.

“Hey baby, how are you?” His Brazilian accent rings in my ears.

“I’m great,” I lie.

“Really?” he questions. “What are your plans looking like tonight?” Oh God.

“Umm, I’m actually really busy.” I sigh. I’m not interested. I want Evan to come back to me.

“I understand. I just want to talk to you for a few minutes and then I’m heading to Brazil.” He sighs. “Just a few minutes? Please.”

I fall into the oversized chair in my parents’ living room throwing my feet up onto the ottoman. “Just a few minutes?” I ask, I hate him, he makes me sick since I got the photos of him with other women that someone had sent to my phone.

“I promise.”

“I’m staying at my parents’ right now.” He’s silent for a few seconds too long. “Hello?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“Ok.” I press the red button tossing my phone on the table. “Shit.”

Amy yells from the front door as I’m heading to the kitchen for a bottled water. “I’ll be back tomorrow, doll.” She closes the door behind her. “What’s that girl up to these days?” I ask mindlessly. I decide to check out the contents in the oven when the doorbell rings across the house. “Didn’t you remember your key?” I run to the door swinging it open seeing that it’s
not
Amy.

“I didn’t know I had one.” Marco smiles.

“Wow, do you have a helicopter or something? You got here so quickly,” I ask seeing a sports car in the driveway.

He laughs. “No, I was in the neighborhood.”

I nod. “Come in.” I gesture inside the house. “Would you like a water or something else to drink?”

“No, but thanks.” He smiles.

I lead the way into the living room “What’s up, Marco?”

“Hey.” He reaches for my arm. “Why are you acting so different?” He pulls me into him and I freak. “It’s just me.” I back away. “You used to be all over me.”

“What? Me, different? No, definitely not,” I lie because I am acting weird. I don’t feel right having another man touch me. I love Evan and I always will.

A smile pulls at his lips. “Good, I don’t want you to think you need to be.” His hand releases the touch he still has even at the slight distance. Walking backward tilting his head to the side, he picks up a silver frame. “You were so beautiful in this picture, Abby.” What he doesn’t know is that picture isn’t of me. It’s of Addie.

I nod, crossing my arms over my chest. “Thanks.”
Get to the point.
“So… tell me, what’s on your mind?”

“I’m planning to leave for Brazil.” He links his hands together placing them on his head. “I could stay though.” He walks the distance I’ve managed to gain by stepping back. “I could take you with me or I could stay
here
.”

I ask myself what I’m going to do when he reaches me. Is he going to expect me to invite him into my heart or my bed? Do I want to do that?
No,
I definitely do not want that. I know I don’t. Why does guilt always smother me when he’s around though? Guilt that I
should
give him another chance? Maybe its closure, maybe I
need
closure.

“Abby? What would you like? What would make you happy?” When his hands wrap around my waist, I freeze, I don’t know what to do or say.

I haven’t considered being with him, an option for so long, for a reason. I haven’t told him about the pictures and I won’t. I also don’t know how to tell him no when he’s being so soft and gentle. Not because I’m considering it, I just don’t want to hurt his feelings, although he didn’t consider mine when he did all of the things that he did.

Marco grabs my arm surprising me as he brings my body to his. I lift my arms into his chest shoving myself away, but he doesn’t loosen his grip. “No. I can’t do this.” I admit, he’s holding a smile and I think he’s good with my decision, but then he shakes his head. The smile turns dark and scary. I shudder. He makes a clicking sound with his tongue.

“I’ve given you every opportunity, Abby. You chose
very
,
very
wrong this time.” He makes a clicking sound with his tongue.

“My parents are gonna be home soon, you need to leave,
now
.” I’m full of fear, I know I’m in danger and that I need to get away from him.

“I know that’s bullshit, Abby. Your parents are gone, Amy just left, and the cook and housekeeper are gone for the evening.” How does he know all of that?

My head’s swinging in and out of so many possibilities. But the biggest one is….
How do I escape a lunatic?
“You’re hurting my arm.” I pull with no hope of breaking his hold.

“I want you,
Abby
. Tell me you choose me and I’ll forgive you for denying me a minute ago.” His mouth presses hard against mine. He tries sticking his tongue down my throat, but I hold my lips tightly shut. His hands are forcibly rubbing over my body and under my workout top finding my breast. “Tell me you want me, baby.”

“You make me sick.” I spit in his face.

He wipes away the spit with his hand and laughs at me. “Oh, you don’t love me anymore, huh? Is that how it’s gonna be?” He reaches for the bottom of my top ripping it over my head. “I’ll tell you how this is gonna be. You fucking tease. What, you think your Evan cares about you? You think he’s gonna come and get you with a white horse or something?” He laughs again.

Tears well in my eyes because I know where this is going and no one’s here to save me. No one knows that I’m in danger. I don’t want him anywhere near me, let alone inside of me.

“You’ve had this before you should know it’s gonna be good, baby.” He unhooks his belt.

“No!”
I scream.

He drops his pants and rips mine down my thighs. “I’m taking everything and leaving nothing, Abby. No one is gonna want you when I’m finished. I’m gonna fuck you till you scream. You know you can’t wait to come all over my big cock.” I’m thrown against the wall hitting my head. The room goes black for a second and I realize I must have been knocked out for a second and now he’s pushing himself inside me.

I scream and my head bounces off of the wall again. Tears are streaming down my face uncontrollably. He continues pushing and forcing himself inside of me and it hurts really badly. I hit him over and over, but he’s too big for me to push away.

“Your precious Evan’s dead, Abby. No one can save you now. Except me.” He moans loudly.

“I hate you!” I pound his chest. My body is jerked forward when Marco’s is pulled off of me. I fold to a sitting position wrapping my arms around my legs rocking back and forth.