Page 87 of Indie

“What’s happening mam?” he asked, sleepy eyes not really able to focus on me.

“I need you to get up and go with dad. I’ll get you tomorrow.”

“Why? We’ve never stayed at dad’s in ages. I don’t want to go. Tell him I’m not going.”

“It’s ok. Just for tonight. Hurry, please.”

When I brought two sleepy children down the stairs, Gary was pacing back and forth between the kitchen and lounge.

“I don’t want to go,” Luke whined.

“Come on, mate. We’ll have a great time. Now go with Darren and Shaun and get in the car.”

“I don’t want to go, mammy. I want to stay with you.” Lily hugged my leg, and I watched the tension build on Gary’s face.

“Please kids, just go with your dad’s friends. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”

Lily dropped her arms, scooping up Mr Morris and following Luke out of the house, the door closing behind them, leaving me and Gaz alone.

“What the fuck have you been telling my kids, Emmie?”

“Nothing, Gaz. Nothing I swear.”

“You been convincing them that old man biker of yours is a better dad? You been calling him daddy too? Is that what you’ve been doing, you dirty little slut?”

I was going to try to reason with him, plead with him, tell him Indie was on his way over. But the fist that flew into my mouth knocked those thoughts right out of me, snapping my head backwards and I went staggering with it.

Crumpled on the floor, I wiped my mouth where the sting was developing. Blood swiped across the back of my hand. Gary moved closer, and I scuttled back. Daisy barked.

“Bet you like it rough you whore,” his leg swung forward into the middle of my stomach, the toe of his boot connecting right in the softest part, pushing my diaphragm upwards and the air out of my lungs.

I needed to curl up in a foetal position, protect as much of me as possible. But somewhere, Indie was at the end of a phone. And that phone was on the sofa in the lounge. I tried to push to my feet, but my stomach felt like it had gone into cramp, and I struggled to even get to my knees.

“Stupid bitch.”

I expected another blow, but instead I heard him scream this time, a big lump of brown hanging off his arm, snarling like she was a wild beast. Pushing through the thick, thumping pain, I crawled to the lounge, reaching out for the mobile. Myhands shook, my fingers trembling, barely able to type in the key code, desperately scrolling for his number. Daisy yelped. Then a second yelp. And then a whimper. I pushed the call button, looking over my shoulder just as the lean, towering shape got to me, grabbing my hair and yanking me backwards.

My legs moved as he dragged me back to the kitchen, my heels scrabbling for purchase, pricks of pain where the hair was ripping out of my scalp and then he flung me sideways.

“Please,” I shrieked, tears streaming down my face.

But the words only made him worse.

“I bet you begged him, didn’t you?”

His toe crunched into my ribs. I shouted out. A yell of pain.

“Begged him to fuck you.”

His foot connected with me again. The searing hot blast of pain hit me like a missile. I screamed.

“I told you, no one else can ever have you.”

Another kick. A sickening crack.

“And that’s exactly what I’m going to make sure of.”

The foot struck me again, my body in agony, and all I could do was let out a silent cry. Gary crouched down beside me, grabbing a handful of hair, pulling my head back.