Page 83 of Gamble with Me

"Don't be silly," I mumbled, climbing the stairs. I didn't understand why I was nervous to the point I struggled to place my key into the lock.

My fingers trembled, and my heart thundered in my chest as if it expected a sudden attack. My gut yelled at me to disappear, but instead of listening, I pushed the door open and entered the quiet apartment.

Everything was in its place when I removed my shoes and quickly scanned my surroundings. I felt like a trapped mouse that didn't know where the cat was hiding. Blood rushed through my veins at an impossible speed, and I gulped.

Nothing could explain my strange feelings and confusing reactions. It looked as if my body had a mind of its own and tried to warn me about the danger I didn't see. Maybe it was because of my past experiences with Chester. Or perhaps I just needed rest after the crazy night.

However, the apartment seemed empty. Chester's shoes and jacket were missing. He didn't stomp around, furious because he lost money again. He didn't bark at me the moment I stepped inside. There was no sign he was at home, so why was his car outside?

I took off my trench coat and placed the car keys in the tiny blue porcelain bowl. The odd feeling didn't vanish, even when I checked Zara's room. Something was wrong. I knew it.

Inhaling deeply, I placed my hand on the knob of the bedroom door when I heard shuffling behind the door. Chills ran up my spine, and I retracted my fingers, hesitating.

Chester's cursing came to me through the thick wood, and I realized I didn't have the strength to face his senseless wrath. But before I could grab my keys and shoes, the door swung open, and Chester appeared before me.

"Where have you been?" he barked instead of greeting, his face twisting into an angry grimace.

"At work," I replied, clenching my right hand. "I had to finish the month-end close."

"How stupid do you think I am?" Chester growled, approaching me like a mad lion that wanted to tear me to pieces. "You're sleeping with him!"

My heart stopped. He couldn't know anything. I was extra cautious. I didn't tell anyone about having an affair. Chester only had assumptions, not real proof.

"With who?" I asked stupidly, playing ignorant and innocent before my brain could come up with something better that could save my ass.

"Zyon," Chester hissed with so much animosity and hatred I was surprised that simple word didn't set our apartment on fire.

"What?" I peeped, taking a step back when he took one toward me. "He is my boss. I barely know him. Why would you think that?"

"Do you remember George?" Chester asked, changing the subject abruptly. "The man who was hanged before our window," he continued when I didn't react.

"Of course I remember him," I replied, unsure where he was heading with this ugly reminder.

"Well, we had mutual friends," Chester clarified, narrowing his eyes at me when I shifted my weight from one leg to another. But I just couldn't stand still. "When he was drunk, he was a talker, and he said that he noticed heated looks between you and Zyon."

"This is a misunderstanding, Chester," I rambled, my mouth going dry. "There is nothing between me and Zyon."

"I don't believe you, baby doll," he seethed, his eyes flashing lighting at me. "George didn't have any reason to speak bullshit about you. He only claimed what he saw, and he died for it. Your insane lover murdered him to shut him up."

"Do you hear how absurd that sounds?" I laughed awkwardly, but it came out like a desperate whining. "I’ve never been unfaithful to you."

"Not before you met him," Chester ground out, his red face and messy hair underlining the craziness reflecting in his eyes. "I warned you not to do stupid shit, Valeria, and you didn't listen."

"I didn't do anything," I claimed, backing away when he started to approach me again. "I don't have a lover, Chester."

Yet, he was deaf to my words, and before I could reach the door, he harshly grabbed me and began shaking me.

"Youwhore!" he yelled, squeezing my arms with bruising force. "How could you do that to me?"

He pushed me against the door, and I used the opportunity to turn the knob, but my sweaty hand slipped. Chester took hold of my hair and yanked me back, tearing the strands out.

I yelped in pain, fighting to get away from him, but I only escaped when he threw me on the floor in the living room.

Tears prickled in my eyes when my body collided with the cold wood, and my arm twisted at a weird angle. The piercing pain shot through me like a sharp blade cutting the butter, but it was nothing compared to the horror that embraced me when I saw Chester unbuckling his belt.

"This will teach you a lesson, you filthy whore," he announced, folding the leather belt in half. I quickly tried to crawl away from his reach but was too slow.

The first hit ended on my naked calf. Only the thin pantyhose blocked the impact. I hissed in pain, feeling the tears falling down my cheeks.