“This is only happening because of you, Adeline,” Nate loudly stated. I subconsciously leaned closer to the door and flinched when something clamored to the floor. “Last chance, Adeline!”
Leather cracked against flesh, and someone cried out in pain. “Addie stay!” she cried. “No give up!”
Oh my God. Nate hit her again.
Phoebe. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stay hidden. I had to come out. I had to help Phoebe. Vomit burned in my throat when Nate hit her again. My breathing quickened. I grabbed the shoe and sprang up. My fingers wrapped around the knob. Phoebe’s cries of pain were a dagger to my heart. I wasn’t going to let her get hurt because of me.
I threw open the door and jumped out of the closet. “Stop!” Blinking in the bright light, I stumbled into the foyer. Nate and Zane stood in the threshold in between the dining room and living room. Phoebe lay on the floor with her arms wrapped protectively around her head.
“Well, well, well.” Nate turned toward me and smiled. “That’s where you were.” He let his arm fall, his leather belt swinging at his side. Then his lips pulled into a sadistic smile. He brought his arm up and whipped Phoebe.
I didn’t even think. Fueled by anger I ran through the living room. Nate’s cold eyes flashed with shock. Zane looked up, his face blank. For a few seconds, both of them just stood there, dumbfounded. Seeing me racing toward them was the last thing they expected.
And it worked in my advantage. I jumped over the coffee table and dove at Nate. I collided with his side. He stepped back, throwing his arms out to try and keep his balance. My head hit his shoulder. Searing pain rippled across my forehead. Ignoring it completely, I lifted my hand and brought the shoe down as hard as I could. The heel clipped his face.
He stumbled back, backing into a chair. It loudly scooted across the wooden floor. Nate’s arms flailed. I watched it happen in slow motion. His feet went out from underneath him. His eyes widened and he reached out, grasping at anything in front of him. I leaned out of the way just in time. The floor shook from the weight of his body falling onto it.
And then, Zane was on me. He pushed me face down against the floor. My chin hit, and I bit my tongue. Blood pooled in my mouth.
“Get her!” Nate yelled. “Get her!”
I thought he was talking about me, and Zane already had me. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Phoebe get up. Zane pushed my face into the floor and yanked my hands behind my back. I couldn’t see what was going on.
Phoebe yelled something in Vietnamese. Then the belt cracked, and Nate cried out in pain. Phoebe had it. She hit Nate. She was fighting back!#p#分页标题#e#
I struggled to get out of Zane’s grip. He pushed me down and climbed on so that he was straddling me. I bent my legs and brought them up, kicking Zane in the back.
“Get her!” Nate repeated.
I felt Zane’s muscles tighten. If he got up to get Phoebe, I could get free. Phoebe hit Nate again. Zane jumped up. I put my hands on the floor to push myself up, but Zane was faster. He kicked hard against my side. The pain shot through my ribs, rendering me useless for a few seconds.
It was just enough. Zane grabbed Phoebe and threw her aside as if she weighed nothing. He pulled Nate to his feet and stood in front of him like the good guard dog that he was. I scrambled up and crawled backwards to Phoebe. I threw my arms around her, ready to shield her from any more damage.
“This is unacceptable!” Nate bellowed. I swallowed hard. Nate picked up the leather belt, seething with anger. “Get them downstairs. Now!”
Zane grabbed my ankles and roughly yanked me away from Phoebe. I kicked my feet but was unable to break free from Zane’s grasp. He dragged me into the dining room.
“Let me go!” I shouted and thrashed against him. I twisted and reached out, taking hold of a table leg. Zane kept pulling, but I didn’t let go. The table moved along with me, scraping the polished wooden floor. I didn’t see Nate coming until his foot came down on my elbow. I screamed and let go.
Zane jerked me into the kitchen. He dropped my ankles, and my feet crashed onto the floor. Sharp pain cracked against my heels. My hands flattened against the cold tile floor as I frantically attempted to get away. I flipped onto my belly and crawled forward. Zane grabbed me around the waist and scooped me up before harshly flipping me over his shoulder. I pounded my fists against his back and screamed.
“Shut the hell up, you motherfucking cunt!” He swiftly turned into the wall. My head cracked against it. Black dots floated in front of me. He moved away and rammed me into the wall one more time. Debilitating dizziness took over. My arms went slack, hanging uselessly down Zane’s back. He opened the basement door and leaned forward.