Fight With Me (Fight and Fall) (28 page)

“Anything you do, every move you make, you do it because I tell you to. I’m getting fucking tired of you doing whatever the hell you want. Sit down on the couch,” he says, his eyes dilating.

He’s completely lost it. I can only imagine what he’s gone through, avoiding the authorities who were looking for him. Aiden made sure there was a thorough man-hunt, and I can tell that he’s fully snapped from being in hiding.

“I said
, sit the fuck down!” he bellows as I flinch, walking over to the couch.

I sit down on
the cushion, my heart racing and my hands shaking involuntarily.

He laughs crazily, obviously enjoying the power he has over me. I can only imagine the pleasure he feels for having me
here right now. I’m his puppet, his little rag doll that he can do whatever he wants to. I’ll fight him if I have to, but I know I have no chance. One bullet is all it takes to end it all for me. If only I could make it to the dresser and get my gun…

“Emma, Emma, Emma,” he says tusking my name. “You have no idea how long it took me to get here
. You’ve made my life difficult. I could be in Mexico right now, with millions. You had to ruin it for me, because you couldn’t keep your legs closed. You wouldn’t fucking die either, could you? No, you’re like one of those cockroaches; you cut off its head and it still walks around, causing problems. You’re all I thought about for months. I wanted to rip you apart but then I thought, wait, she might be even more useful to me. I heard that you married that crippled asshole,” he says finding the whole situation amusing.

“You have access to his money
now. What’s his is yours, right?” he says chuckling. “Well, since that’s the case, I guess you don’t mind if you share some of it with those who are less fortunate. How about what’s yours is
mine
? If you do what I tell you, nothing bad will happen to you. Well, nothing more, I guess,” he says admiring his handiwork.

He walks over to me as I flinch. He presses the tip of the gun under my chin
, as he looks at the marks he made on my face. His eyes brighten, obviously enjoying the damaged skin. I look directly into his eyes, my pride making its appearance.

He smiles slightly and before I know it, the harsh metal of the gun hits the side of my temple, whipping my head to the side. I groan,
closing my eyes tightly, biting my lip to dwell the pain. I feel cool liquid drip down my cheek, obviously being cut from the impact. I don’t bother wiping it away, because I know it won’t make any difference.

“I used to like it when you fought me, but things got old real fast. I’m done playing games. I realized that was my downfall. I played with you too much, took things for granted. Not this time
though, Emma. Now, be a good little girl and clean yourself up. As much as the red brings out the color in your eyes, I don’t think the bank will be too accommodating to a bloodied woman,” he says smiling.

I look at him with confusion, trying to understand what he wants me to do.

“If you haven’t figured it out yet, then your even dumber than I gave you credit for. You’re going to the bank and withdrawing money that was owed to me. Hurry up, because I know that Aiden will be back shortly. He can keep me company while you go and get it.”

I blink several times, rising from the couch. I move around it slowly, trying to make my way into the bedroom. Hopefully he will just think that I’m just freshening up and not getting my g
un. Before I can reach the doorway once again, I feel a steel grip on my wrist.

“Uh
, uh, Emma. You can clean up in the kitchen sink where I can see you. Don’t push your luck with me,” he says, squeezing my wrist even harder.

I wince in pain as he practically drags me in to the kitchen. He turns on the faucet, moving his hand up to my face, shoving me under the spray. The brutality of his actions brings tears to my eyes as he lets go of me. I turn my head to the side, washing away the
drying blood with my fingertips. He sits down at the kitchen table, his gun pointed at me in warning.

“You missed a spot,” he says smiling as I clench my teeth in frustration.

I rub my face my vigorously, grimacing at the pain. He wants clean, I’ll give him fucking clean. I’ll scrub so hard that I reach my skull. The pain is the only thing keeping me going. He thinks he’s been pushed to the brink by
me
? He hasn’t seen anything yet. Time to get a taste of your own medicine. First chance I get, I’m getting
my
revenge.

I grab some paper towels, mopping the moisture from my face. He starts coming towards me again, when I hear the phone ringing in the background. That must be Aiden, trying to call me.
Not answering might be a good thing. Maybe he’ll get suspicious and think something really
did
happen to me. I hope warning bells are going off in his head, because I don’t want him walking into this house unaware of the danger that awaits him.

“I’m guessing that’s Aiden. It’s cute how he checks in on you. I’m sure he’s worried that you’re not picking up. Probably is rushing over here right now to see if you’re okay. I can’t wait
until he shows up,” he says reaching me.

He grips my throat with his free hand, applying enough pressure to make me panic but
enough to allow me to breathe.

“I really did a number on you, huh
, Emma? I’m surprised Aiden married you after what I did. Although, it doesn’t seem like he has the best taste in women. He’d rather have you over Jessica, who has every asset you don’t. When he fucks you, does he put a bag over your head? Or does he just fuck you from behind so he can’t see your ugly face,” he says eyes twinkling.

Before I can respond or spit in his face like I want to, I hear the front door fly open. I look over Marcus’s shoulder to Aiden’s crazed expression. Horror, pain, everything I never wanted to see on his face just flashed
right before my eyes.

I see him stride towards us as Marcus tightens his hold on my neck. I cough, trying to get some air from the
grip he has on me.

“I’ll choke her to death or just shoot her in the head if you take one more step towards us. Your choice, Aiden,” Marcus says not breaking eye contact with me.

I see Aiden halt in his tracks, a helpless look upon his face. He knows that Marcus calls the shots. He can break us if we don’t follow his rules.

I feel his fingers contract away from my neck, as I gasp for air. I cough loudly, rubbing my sore throat.

“Stop being so dramatic, Emma. We both know you can take more than that,” he says laughing.

I look up at Marcus, noticing that he’s staring directly at Aiden as he said that. I see Aiden flex his jaw, his right hand clenched into a fist beside him. It’s not enough that Marcus is practi
cally holding us prisoner here, he has to bait Aiden as well.

“What do you want?” Aiden says, anger dripping from every syllable.

“What do I want? How about the money that I should’ve gotten months ago. How about my freedom, not having to look over my shoulder everywhere I go. How about finishing what I started,” he says looking at me now.

I knew that he couldn’t stand me living. No matter what, he wants me dead. Even if we get him the money, he still wants
retribution for what I did to him.

“Whatever amount of money you want, it’s yours. You can
hurt me if that makes you feel better, just don’t touch Emma. She has nothing to do with this,” he pleads, anger still lacing his voice.

“You stupid
, pussy-whipped motherfucker! She has everything to do with it! You’ll give me my money, but I think I’ll have a little fun with her first. I think I’ll fuck her right in front of you, while you watch me take her. I’ll ruin her, so much that you won’t even want her when I’m through,” he says smiling.

Aiden’s face morphs into one of utter rage, as he rushes towards Marcus, jumping over the back of the couch. Marcus moves the gun away from me, trying to aim it at Aiden’s incoming form. Before he can pull the trigger, Aiden bulldozes him, both of them falling to the kitchen floor. I scream in horror, trying to figure out what to do. I see Aiden bash Marcus’s hand against the ground, trying to loosen his hold on the gun.

“Run!” Aiden yells to me, as he punches Marcus in the stomach.

My mind catches up with my body, realizing what I have to do. I can’t just leave Aiden here with him and hope for the best. I need to end this right now, for good.

As Aiden and Marcus wrestle for control, I bolt for the bedroom, flinging the top drawer out of the dresser. The gun falls to the ground as I grab for it. My hand shakes from the adrenaline of what I’m about to do.

I take the safety off and rush back into the kitchen. I see that Aiden and Marcus have made it to their feet again, when Marcus sucker punches Aiden in his ribcage. I breathe in through my nose and out my mouth, trying to focus on my target. All of my training has prepared me for this moment.

Before I waste another second, I pull the trigger, an ear splitting boom piercing the air. It almost sounded like I could hear the bullet leaving the gun before I even fired it. I see Aiden fall backwards, the punch from Marcus making him lose his balance. Marcus drops the gun from his hand, clutching his chest with his hand, looking at me with surprise and anger. He starts to stumble towards me, when I see another bullet and another, hitting him in the chest and throat. His eyes lose their onyx shade, the life slowing draining out of them. He falls face first onto the tile in front of me, his body twitching in obvious pain.

“Emma, stay right where you are,” I hear in the background, my ears still ringing from the gunshots.

I look down at Marcus, mesmerized by the blood spilling out from underneath him. His moans become softer as his back relaxes in defeat. I see his entire body still, wondering if he just took his very last breath. I shiver, not fully comprehending what just took place within a matter of seconds. How can a human life end so abruptly, so brutally?

“Emma, look at me please. It’s
Colin. You’re okay. You’re safe now,” I hear as hands grab my arms.

“
Colin?” I ask confused.

I shake myself out of my daze, wondering why
Colin is here and Aiden isn’t beside me right now. I look over to the kitchen, seeing Aiden’s unmoving form on the ground. Did Marcus knock him unconscious?

I
push Colin away, rushing over to Aiden.

“Aiden, wake up. Aiden…,” I say as my face turns white.

I see dark red blood on the tile beside his head. Oh my God! Was he shot?

“Aiden! Please, no!” I scream
.

I get down on my hands and knees, yelling out in pain. I tear off my shirt, applying pressure to the wound on his head. I don’t know how deep it is but I do know that blood is
dripping enough to cause harm. I can’t tell if he’s alive or dead but I do know that I’m not giving up on him. I try to wrap the shirt around his head, frantically trying to think of what to do. Shit! I need to call an ambulance, that’s what I need to do. Try to keep it together, Emma. You need to get help for him.

“Emma, calm down. I’m calling for help
right now,” I hear Colin say.

Shit, I almost forgot he was here. I keep applying pressure to the wound, thankful that
Colin is here to make the call.

In a daze, I
hear Colin give them our address, reassuring me that an ambulance is on the way. I see blood seeping through the fabric of my shirt and I suck in a harsh sob.

“Don’t leave me, Aiden. You promised you wouldn’t leave me. You said you would always protect me. Just wake up and come back to me. I can’t live if you don’t!” I say frantically.

“Come back to me,” I chant over and over again as I feel hands grip my shoulders.

I see the paramedics come into the house, bringing a stretcher with them.
Colin grabs me from behind, lifting me up off the ground as they attend to Aiden. I watch them, sobbing, wanting to know if he’s still with me.

“He’s not breathing,” I hear one of the paramedics say to the other.

I cry out sharply, as if a heavy weight is being placed upon my chest. My body falls forwards as my eyes roll back in my head. I feel myself being caught before I hit the ground, strong arms holding me up.

“I’ve got you, Emma.
I’ve got you,” I hear Colin say reassuringly.

He’s gone,
I can feel it. Aiden’s gone, and I’m all alone once again.

Before I lose all consciousness, I remember
two words permanently etched into my wedding ring. Two words that will have to keep me going. Only one of two things I have left of him now.

Always Aiden

My fucking head hurts. The kind of pain you get when a migraine sneaks up on you, splitting your skull in two. Did somebody hit me with a sledgehammer or what?

I try to move my hand towards my head but I can’t. My arms are
heavy, my movements paralyzed. I try to focus, but my brain is so scattered, I can barely keep my train of thought.

It feels as if a black shadow has settled over me,
blanketing everything. Every time I try to think or remember something, my mind becomes vacant. What has happened to me? Where the fuck am I? I can feel the exasperation settling in, making me feel defeated and angry.

I keep seeing a face appear in front of me, one that doesn’t seem familiar in the slightest. A woman with dark hair and a smooth, pale complexion flashes before
me. She’s crying, she’s hurt, saddened by something.

I see her again, her face happy this time, her face taking on an enthralling expression, one that I can’t look away from. Who is she and why can’t I stop seeing her face? Images of her flood my brain, making it painful to look away. She arches her back, her lips parting, her eyes clos
ing as I find myself looking down above her, realizing that
I’m
making her feel this way. Her expression is for me alone.

I can’t figure
out what’s happening to me. Maybe I don’t want to. I’m savoring every glimpse I get of
her
. I can’t stand that she makes me weak. No woman has ever done that. I hate her. I hate that I want her even more.

A familiar songs
materializes in my head, almost as if the lyrics are a secret message. Why do the words spill out so clearly and what do they mean?

Iʼm tearing up, across your face
Move dust through the light
To find your name
It's something faint
This is not a place
Not yet awake, I'm raised of wake
Still alive who you love
Still alive who you love
Still alive who you love

             
Before I can decode their significance, a black hole appears in front of me, sucking me in. White light blinds me, as I begin to feel numb. I am alone now. Maybe that’s all I ever was or ever will be; alone.

“
Please, don’t leave me
,” I hear in the distance, a fleeting whisper.

             
I realize that this must be a dream, a night terror meant to torture me. I hear
her
screaming my name, as I try to block out the agonizing cries. They become fainter, until I can no longer hear them. A sense of complete abandonment washes over me, when I realize that she is gone and I am truly all alone.

              “He’s breathing now. We have him stabilized. Stay with me. You’re going to be okay. Just stay with me,” I hear someone say.

             
I nod my head, the image of
her
keeping me alive.

To be concluded…