Page 180 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part Two

We run down the stairs, and he slams my body into the wall at each turn.

“Come the fuck on, Liv. I know you can keep up,” he drawls. “Remember, I’ve seen that tight ass of yours.”

God, I’m gonna throw up behind the tape.

Still, we go round and round so fast I get dizzy, and before I know it, we’re in the basement exit to the garage. I look at my crushed purse and shattered phone with enraged longing.

When the muggy garage air hits my face, heavy with the smell of gasoline and tire rubber, it’s like a shot of adrenaline. The sedan Zane pulls me toward already has the trunk ajar, as if he plans on throwing me in there.

Andfuckno.

I quickly survey my surroundings, noting the exits and searching for any possible weapons—not that I have the ability to use anything with my hands tied behind my back. The plan becomes clearer as the distance between me and the car grows smaller.

“All right, Liv, in you go,” he says, grabbing me by the hair and using his opposite hand to lift the tailgate.

It’s now or never.

Taking in a deep breath to help me sprint, I lift my leg….

…and slam the heel of it down on top of his foot. He howls, and I thank the Lord above that he chose to wear tennis shoes. He curls at the waist as a reflex, and I spin when he releases my hair and knee him in the balls.

Now run, bitch!

I sprint toward the exit, licking frantically at the adhesive at the seam of my lips in hopes it will weaken the grip. Even though muffled, I scream as loud as I can.

“Help! Fire!” I scream, even though the words are indecipherable.

Right as I turn the bend to go up the empty ramp, I power through my thighs, aiming for the wide-open exit and the street beyond it.

Just get to the street, Shae.

My heart races, my stomach clenches as I try to regain the balance I’ve lost with my center of gravity thrown off by my arms around my back.

My sore throat screams along with the sound coming from my body, and right when I think I might get free, the bottom falls out of the world.

I fly through the air, my feet kicked out from under me, and land on my side with a thud.

“Fucking hell, Liv!” Zane hisses.

“Ow!” I screech. He wraps my long hair around his fist, dragging me up by his grip on the roots.

“This is your fucking problem—you think you’re stronger than you are,” he grits out, frog-marching me back down the ramp and toward his car. My side throbs where he cut me, amplified by my fall.

“You think you’re so smart, Liv, like you can outthink, outmaneuver anyone, but guess what? You’re not that fucking smart!”

We get a few feet from the trunk, and he whirls around to push me to the ground and backhand me on the cheek. Without my hands, I fall to the side from the force.

I can barely think, barely breathe.

“God, that felt good!” he gloats, grabbing me by the hair again, pulling so tight I fear my scalp might be bleeding. “I thought I’d get you to fall in love with me, get married, and then, maybe plan a little accident for you and your little bastard children. Then, I would have inherited everything, owned Orisun outright, and not have to worry about you or your bossy, bitchy ass ever again.”

He wrenches my head back, and with tears streaming down my face, I try to kill him purely from my hatred.

“But then thatassholehad to come back, and I knew the opportunity had passed. You had to go ruin everything, Liv.Everything.” He shakes my head at the last word, pulling me back up by my hair.

I’m so overwhelmed, spinning like a top from pain and information overload, that when he pushes me into the trunk, I barely resist.

“You fucked the plan, Liv, but I have someone who’s gonna fix it. I just gotta bring you along for the ride.”