Page 104 of Die for You

“What now?” Lenny asks, never taking his eyes off Bria.

Again, there is no method to my madness.

Peering around for options, I refuse to think this is divine intervention, but the chapel is the closest thing we have.

Taking off my heels, I open the door without a word.

Lenny sighs before picking Bria up and tossing her over his shoulder. This place has a chokehold over me, but I ignore the imminent panic in the pit of my stomach because we need something to restrain Bria with.

Lenny produces zip ties from his inner jacket pocket.

I arch a brow.

“I thought they’d come in handy.”

And this is our life because he’s right.

We quickly tie Bria to a chair. Guilt hinders me from looking Lenny in the eye. This is so wrong.

Once she’s tied, I look down at my clean dress and then at Lenny, who doesn’t have a scratch on him. I then peer at an unconscious Bria.

Lenny understands my concerns. He takes off his jacket and bow tie, tossing them onto the altar. “Hit me.”

I flinch at his suggestion, but we’re running out of time.

So I punch him in the jaw.

His head snaps back with an awful crack. But he turns his cheek, a sinister grin tugging at his luscious lips. “Is that the best you can do?”

It’s the motivation I need as I punch him again, busting open his lip this time.

He wipes away the blood with the back of his hand. “There’s my girl.”

His hoarse voice and blood dripping down his chin turn me on. A fire begins to burn. The room closes in on us, and our frustrations explode. We charge for the other at the same time. I throw another punch, which he blocks.

A quick succession of punches and kicks is also blocked. Now, we’re fighting for real.

Just as Gianna trained us, we fight like the skilled warriors we are. He allows me to connect at times that are conflicting. I know we both need to look like we’ve just had the fight of our lives, but I’ve hurt him enough.

He needs to give as good as he gets.

He shoves me into the wall but never strikes me. That won’t work, however.

“This will be a lot more believable if we’re both bleeding.”

“I won’t hit you.”

We circle the other, eyes locked. He stands firm on his stance, so it seems I have to do the dirty work myself. I reach for a Bible from a pew and whack myself in the face with it. Instantly, blood pours from my nose.

Not broken, but effective enough.

Gripping the thin halter strap of my dress, I tear it with ease. It unravels, and Lenny’s eyes darken when the tops of my breasts are exposed. My now ruined dress is only held together by the straps at the back.

“Choke me.”

That order is one he doesn’t object to.

He grips my throat in one hand and walks me backward. My back slams into the scratchy wall. He holds me in place and yanks out the clip in my hair. My long hair tumbles free. He pulls my hair and tugs my head to the right.