The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth and he spat on the floor, dragging himself back to his feet. He wasn’t backing down. Not anymore.
“You think you’re a big man now? Now that you got your own house? Your own car? Your own girl? But you don’t, do you? Where is your girl, Julian? I don’t see her here with you. I don’t see her in your house. In your bed. Did she finally have enough of your shit?”
He landed another blow to Jay’s face, but his words hurt more than any physical pain.
“You are nothing, boy. You are nothing and no one. And you never will be. You’re weak and pathetic. And still that girl chose you. So how did manage to lose her? Did she finally see you for what you really are? You think you’re so much better than me, but you’re just like me. The apple doesn’t fall far, Julian. You’re spoiled. Rotten to the core.”
Jay cradled his head against the wall trying to fight off his father’s merciless words. He heard the familiar click of his father’s belt coming undone, but made no attempt to move.
“You’re a disease, boy. All you bring is pain and suffering to those around you. And deep down, you enjoy it.”
The belt fell over his exposed back with a biting slap. The fiery pain barely registered. Em had given him the most precious thing in the world—her heart—and he’d broken it. Broken her. He had successfully taken the one and only good thing in his entire miserable life, and he’d thrown it away on insecurities and fear. He deserved everything he got.
Chapter Thirty-six
Em
“Em?” The sound of Mason’s frantic voice over the line had her bolting upright in bed.
“What is it? What happened?”
“I don’t know. I think maybe you should get over here. Or call the cops or something.”
Terror gripped Em’s heart and Mason’s voice wobbled as her hand shook the phone away from her ear.
“Where is here?” But she already knew. Christ, she knew.
“Jay’s house. Some guy showed up and . . .” Mason’s voice continued to hum from the speaker, but Em’s pulse raced so loudly in her ears she couldn’t hear what he was saying. It didn’t matter. She knew that, too. Jay was in trouble.
Sweat broke out over her body as she shook beneath the covers. Jay was in trouble. What could a useless coward do? Not a damn thing.
But Jay was in trouble and he needed her, whether or not he wanted to admit it. She couldn’t let him down. She wouldn’t. Not this time.
She wasn’t a useless coward. Not anymore. She was beautiful. And strong. And brave, dammit. That’s what Jay saw in her. And that was what she needed to see in herself.
“Where are you going?” Ashlyn was still camped out on the sofa, watching Bruce Willis blow shit up on the TV.
Em was in the kitchen, swiping the car keys from the counter without even registering that she’d thrown on jeans and her sneakers along the way. “I have to go.”
“Where?” Em couldn’t even imagine what she must look like—terrified, angry, desperate, verging on hysteria—but whatever it was had Ashlyn on her feet and around the island counter in no time. “What’s going on?”
“To Jay’s. His father’s there.” Em headed for the door as she spoke, Ashlyn hot on her heels. “Mason called. Jay’s in trouble. I have to go.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“Ash—”
“Don’t.” Ashlyn tugged on her second boot—Em hadn’t even noticed her putting on the first one—and stepped outside onto the porch ahead of her. “Don’t start. We’re friends and I’m coming with you. End of story.”
Even if Em had time for this, it wasn’t an argument she was going to win.
“Fine,” she snapped harsher than she’d meant to. “But I’m driving.”
Ashlyn scurried into the passenger seat without another word as Em turned the key and hauled ass out of the driveway. The radio blared to life and she instantly silenced it, tearing her cell from her pocket. Dialing while speeding down back roads probably wasn’t the best idea, but it only consisted of three numbers.
***
Swerving into Jay’s drive she barely missed sideswiping the pickup as she snapped her phone shut, ignoring the continuing calls of the woman on the other end of the line. Em had told her what she needed to know. Now it was time for her to do something. To prove to herself that she wasn’t a useless coward.
“Em!” She threw open her door and nearly slammed into Mason who was waiting just outside.
“Is he still here?”
“Yeah. I don’t think you should go in there, though. I called the police.”