Victory Lane (Shady Falls #1) (15 page)

Julius turned to me, he smiled slightly but then it fell. I wasn’t sure what he saw in my face. Was my frustration evident in my eyes? I hoped not.

I plastered a smile on my face and nodded, “I’m ready to go when you are.” Audrey stood there and sulked but didn’t say another word. When she met my eyes, her sadness turned into a glare. Bad things were promised in that look, but I didn’t care. I saw how terrified she was when I spoke to her. She couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes. As much as she wanted to try, she couldn’t affect my employment with Fuller Enterprises. She’d be lucky to have a job come Monday morning.

“Great, Ky and Marg went to grab food and drinks. They’ll be meetin’ us back at the hotel.” His smile was back and it widened, “You’re stuck with us now.”

My smile matched his, the thought made me giddy. I was stuck with them … with him. That was definitely something I could deal with.

Chapter Ten

Toni

After the confrontation with Audrey, we went back to the hotel in relative silence. I didn’t know what to say to him as we rode through Daytona toward the hotel. But then Julius broke through the silence.

“So, what you did with the car was impressive. I must admit, I was a bit worried about drivin’ the car you worked on.” He gave me a self-deprecating smile, as if he was ashamed to admit it. Shockingly, I wasn’t surprised by his confession and I wasn’t upset by it either. He glanced toward me after his disclosure and almost looked like he was ashamed of himself.

“I understand. You’re drivin’ two-hundred miles per hour in a car that was bein’ worked on by someone you don’t know. You know Kyle and you trust him, you don’t know me. I’d be nervous too. I’m glad you gave me a chance though. I appreciate it.” He may never understand how grateful I was for the chance he, Kyle, and Axel were giving me.

“You earned it, Toni. You’ve proven yourself better than I could have imagined. I’m sure you’ve had to do that a lot since you started working on cars.”

“What? Prove myself?” He nodded and smiled at me, encouraging me to go on. “Yeah, every time I start somethin’ new I have to prove myself all over again. It gets kind of annoyin’ but at the same time I think it’s made me better. I can’t ever relax or just assume people are gonna treat me the same. I’ll be honest though, this was the fastest I was ever accepted. I’m sure there are guys that might have a problem, but for the most part they’ve been cool.”

“I’m glad. I know Ky gave them lots of warning before you came. Everything that the school gave him, he shared with the team.”

I figured, but then I wondered why he acted like such a jerk the first time we met. “Can I ask you a question?” When he didn’t respond, I just continued. “Why then did you act like I was some kind of spy or somethin’ the first time we met? You almost seemed mad I was there.”

He was quiet for a long time, and I wondered if he was going to answer me or not. When he finally spoke, I was shocked by what he had to say.

“I wasn’t mad, Toni, I was surprised. I knew about you, I saw some of the things the school sent, but it was hard to see what you looked like in those films.”

“Okay?” I said in a questioning manner.

“I’m sorry; I just wasn’t prepared to see this gorgeous woman under the hood of my car. I know I was kind of a dick, even after I figured out who you were. I was just so thrown and that was my kneejerk reaction.”

I had no idea what to say to him. He didn’t mince words or make lame excuses, he just told me exactly what he was thinking and it startled me. Calling me gorgeous also threw me. This wasn’t the first time he called me gorgeous or beautiful. I didn’t know how I was supposed to respond to him. I’ve never been comfortable with people giving me compliments and coming from him, I was tongue-tied. We turned into the parking lot and pulled in front of the building to the valet. I wanted to find something to say to this man. I wanted to act like the confident woman I often pretend to be, but I couldn’t come up with anything to say, I could barely look at him. So I silently walked with Julius into the building and to the elevator.

Once inside the elevator, Julius tugged on my sleeve to get me to turn and look at him. When I didn’t meet his eyes, he slowly placed his finger under my chin and guided my gaze to his. “Toni, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I told you before, I say what I’m thinkin’ and I don’t lie. Don’t worry, okay. Just do me a favor, stop hidin’ from me.”

“I’m not–”

“You do, Toni. And it’s okay. When you feel more comfortable with me, you’ll be able to talk to me more. I can wait.”

Now I was dumbfounded. How can he be so sweet? “Thank you, Julius,” I whispered.

He released my arm and turned. I could feel the hard length of him standing so close to me. Sometimes I felt I could feel him even if he wasn’t touching me at all.

We met Margie and Kyle in the hall and the four of us went to Julius’ room to eat and hang out. I learned a lot about how Margie and Kyle got together. I learned that Julius was in a serious relationship a long while ago, but no one said what happened. He seemed to get irritated and sad when the subject came up. I wanted to be curious, but I was busy dodging personal questions myself. I avoided all talk about my past as best as I could, but it was difficult. Of course, Margie was aware of some of it, but I wasn’t sharing with Kyle and Julius. We sat around, ate, drank, and watched movies all night long. It was the most fun I’d had in a long time. I sat on the couch, between Julius and Margie, growing more tired by the minute. I knew I should have gotten up to go back to my room, but I just couldn’t. I was so comfortable, I didn’t want to move and felt myself slowly drifting off.

I’m so pathetic. Lost to the black void of whatever this thing was with Todd. It couldn’t possibly be called a relationship, because there was nothing about this that was a relationship. I had to get away. I had to leave, walk out the door; I had to get the hell outta there before he killed me. He was never gonna force me to do anything, ever again. It was disgusting that I let this happen. I hid the bruises with long sleeves and high collars. I pretended I was fine. I acted happy and in love just so no one would see how weak I’d become. I was pathetic, useless, and sad, Todd made sure of it.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re goin’, whore? We ain’t done here,” he growled as I tried to leave. “We ain’t done until I say we’re done.” Shoving me face-first to the floor, he pressed himself into me from behind and slid his hand around me. His hand slid down my pants and I could feel his arousal pressing into the back of me.

“Stop, Todd. Please, let me go,” I begged. It never helped, I had no idea why I continued to ask him to stop.

Ignoring my pleas, he pulled my pants from me. He pressed into me from behind, hard and fast. I couldn’t move or fight with his weight pressing me to the floor. Pinned to the ground I felt like he was ripping me in apart. He slid his hands around the back of my neck, his fingers meeting at my throat and pressing. Gasping in order to pull in enough air, the room was dark around the edges from the pain and the lack of oxygen entering my lungs.

After what seemed like an eternity, he moved off my back. I turned to my side and gasped for air, but I couldn’t catch my breath. Pain and total despair had me wishing for the sanctity of oblivion. I was sure I would never survive the emotional turmoil that burned through my body every time he forced himself on me. I hated myself for allowing him to do this to me. I felt weak, pathetic; powerless. Sometimes I wondered if my life was even worth living.

After a few long moments, I dressed, resolved to never allow him to do this to me again. I had to get away. If I didn’t get away now, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to go on.

He sat up on the chair and glared at me while I slid my pants over my feet. Traces of blood dotted the inside of my thigh. The sight of the red on my pale sickly skin enraged me. Visions of what my life would become if I didn’t get away flashed through my mind. Nothing but blood, tears, and death was all I had to look forward to. This wasn’t the first time he made me bleed, but it damn well was going to be the last. The desolation I was feeling only moments ago, morphed into unadulterated fury. When I got up to leave he spoke, “Where the fuck do you think you’re going? I didn’t say you could leave.”

With fire in my heart and hatred coursing through me, I whispered, “I’m goin’ home.”

He scowled, “No, you ain’t. You ain’t going anywhere.”

I sucked in a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I had to get out of here with as little problem as possible. “Todd, this is our last family dinner before I move to Mooresville.”

He was up and in my face and I knew where my mistake was. We never talked about Mooresville or school. I don’t know if he thought I’d change my mind or what, but this was not what he wanted to hear. “What do you mean move to Mooresville?” he growled.

I sighed; my frame trembled from my fury and my fear. I backed away and without a word ran down the attic steps. I just wanted to get as far away from him as I could. At least if I could get to where his mom was, he wouldn’t hit me outright. Reaching the top of the second floor steps, freedom was in my sight but it was lost when he grabbed my arm. He pulled back on me, hard. Pain shot through my shoulder and I prayed he wouldn’t cause me too much damage.

“We ain’t finished, Antonia. You ain’t moving to fuckin’ Mooresville. You need to put this little dream of yours out of your goddamned head. You’re mine. I told you, I’ll never let you leave,” he growled at me.

He didn’t even seem to like me, why would he want to continue this relationship? The questions must have been written all across my features because he let out a laugh which both infuriated me and terrified me. He slid a finger down my cheek and across my chest. All I could do was let out a whimpered, “Why?”

“Because, Antonia.” He said my name like some kind of curse. Hatred and disgust were plastered all over his face. He detested me and I still couldn’t figure out, if he hated me so much, why he didn’t just let me go. “I’ll be the best, I’ll have the best, and everyone’ll envy me. My brothers think you’re hot shit. So I’ll have the hottest wife, the farm, the perfect life. Your job won’t be to work on cars, it’ll be to work on the farm and raise all of our children.”

He wanted me, did this to me, because his brothers like me? “But you … you say I disgust you,” I practically growled out. Anger overshadowing my fear, fueling my defiance. Fuck him, I was getting the hell out of here.

“Oh, you do disgust me. You’re a fuckin’ cow who can’t do a damn thing right. But all of my brothers love looking at you. So I’m gonna give them somethin’ to drool over.”

I pulled back from him and he let me go. I was dumbfounded by what he’d just said. He only wanted me because of his brothers? Why would he think anyone would stay in a marriage like that? I knew it was now or never. If I didn’t break away, it would kill me. One way or another he would kill me. I ran down the steps toward the front door and made it to the porch when he stopped me again. He slammed the door open, hitting me from behind. I slipped and fell on the rain soaked porch. The rain was pouring down in sheets as thunder echoed through the valley. I pulled myself up with the railing and tried to turn but he grabbed my arm and spun me toward him again. “You ain’t goin’. Call your dad and tell him somethin’ came up.”

I backed up toward the steps, praying he didn’t push me down them. “I’m not stayin’, Todd. I’m not marryin’ you, I’m not gonna work on this damn farm. I’m movin’ to Mooresville and attendin’ school. This …” I paused and tried to calm my pounding heart. “This is over.”

I turned and ran the rest of the way down the steps and toward my car. I just wanted to get out of there. I had to get to my car and locked in before he could get to me. I opened the door and was ready to slip inside.

He slammed into me, pinning me to the side of my car. He pressed himself into my back. His body surrounded mine, making me quake with fear. He backed off just enough to spin me around and slam me into the car, hard. I felt the impact through my entire form as it vibrated down my spine. He glared into my eyes; the fury burning inside of him was terrifying.

He pulled me off the car and slammed me into the side again, knocking the breath out of me. Tears poured down my cheeks, mixing with the rain as it drenched us completely. He pulled me back and slammed me into the car repeatedly until I was feeling nauseous and light-headed. The anger in his face was worse than I had ever seen. His blue eyes were black with fury and his scowl was terrifying. He’d finally lost all control. He was going to kill me.

Behind us, tires rolled down the gravel driveway making a crushing sound as it approached. He backed off as his father’s truck came toward us. Todd tried to look natural, like we were just talking but I took the opening to get away. I slid into my car, shutting and locking the door.

His father smiled and waved as he rolled past, oblivious to what was happening. I started my car and put it in gear, ready to bolt down the driveway. I was getting the hell out of there before Todd came to his senses. As soon as his father was out of sight, he tried to open my door. Thank goodness I locked it. He pounded on the windows and roof as I pulled away, down the driveway toward the main road. I was finally going to get away from him. I was finally going to be free.

The tires on my car squealed as I turned onto the main road and drove as fast as I could toward town, toward my dad. I knew he would be angry that I allowed Todd to do this to me, but I didn’t care anymore.

Todd’s black Mustang barreled down the road, pulling close to my bumper. I believed he was going to ram my car and force me off the road. My body trembled, terror zapping all reason and strength from my bones. The rain slick streets were dangerous, tears blurred my vision, my hands trembled, and my breaths was ragged. I was petrified. But the moment he pulled alongside me, adrenaline replaced the panic. I didn’t know just how desperate he was or what he was going to do. He was a loose cannon.

Slamming my foot down on the gas, I left him behind as I barreled through town and sped toward my dad’s shop. I drove at breakneck speeds, trying get away or attract the attention of a cop or someone who could help me. I had to get somewhere safe before he could do anything more to hurt me. I fishtailed into the parking lot of my dad’s shop, pulling right into an open bay door and climbed out of my car to the surprised faces of my dad, Jake, and Cade all standing there staring.