Surviving Broken(23)

Her ears rang with the high-pitched sound of white noise. She collapsed in pain.

Luca stood over her shaking his wrist loose after punching her, swearing filthy words in Italian. Dazed by the blow, she flopped to her side moaning in agony, holding the part of her face that felt like it was on fire.

He reached down and shoved his fingers into her mass of hair, dragging her down the hall into the bedroom. Her hands swatted and tore at his fingers until he released her. She crawled to her feet sobbing in fear.

He flung open the closet door exposing her suitcases. Luca came at her again. JC tried to cross over the bed, but he caught her by the waist of her jeans, knocking her flat on her stomach on the bed. Fearing he’d suffocate her face in the comforter, she clawed at the bedding scrambling frantically to get off the bed. Luca pulled her head back by her hair, lifting her chest completely off the bed. She winced in pain.

Catching a glimpse of her Dads bat leaning between the bed and the nightstand, she fought to get to the edge of the bed. Her fingers stretched out, brushing the ridge of the bat, but Luca flipped her onto her back and grabbed her by the throat. She begged for him to stop, but his black eyes glazed over with fierce loathing.

JC bucked and kicked violently, shaking her head back and forth, only tightening his fingers like a noose around her neck. Blood vessels bulged in his neck and forehead as the color of his face grew purple. She couldn’t breathe. Panicking for her life, she wildly pulled at his fingers, gripping at his arms and hands, fighting for air.

Able to get a breath, she wailed, “Ti amo! I love you.”

His nostrils flared as his rabid stare fixed on her face.

“Stop Luca. Ti amo,” she pleaded through broken sobs.

He loosened his grip and buried his face in her hair, kissing her neck and shoulder. “Ti amo JC. Why do you do this to me? I warned you not to leave me. I told you, I am your family. I love you.”

Lying on top of her, he raised to his palms grinding his hips into hers, waiting for her to return the words of love.

And she did, over and over again. “Ti amo. I love you Luca. You are my family. I won’t leave you. I promise.”

Ignoring her battered and bloody face, anger turned to desire. He yanked at the opening of his pants, groping at the skin beneath her shirt.

Nothing could make her feel more shameful than getting her ass beat by a man she thought cared for her, except, offering him her body as a sacrifice to survive. At that moment, JC would’ve made a deal with the devil himself to save her life.

Tears ran down the side of her swollen face into her hair. She nodded to the drawer. “Make love to me, Luca.”





CHAPTER SIX



Tom Clemmins woke to the sound of his cell phone alarm singing, Woke up, Fell out of bed, Dragged a comb across my head. He quietly climbed out of bed and headed for the shower. After quickly rinsing off, he threw on faded jeans, a black T-shirt and a baseball cap. Tess slept face down in bed and Tom gingerly sat beside her, stroking her back. He swept her dark hair to the side and kissed her shoulder. “Good morning birthday girl.”

Tess let out a sleepy laugh, snuggling into her fluffy white pillow. “Morning¸” she replied rolling over to her back. Taking notice he had dressed, she yawned asking, “Where are you off to this morning?”

“I have to run an errand.” He bent nuzzling her neck.

“Since it’s my birthday, I think you should climb back in here and give me a present.” Tess giggled biting her lip and azure blue eyes smiled provocatively.

“I would love nothing more than to climb in bed with you, but I need to pick up a birthday surprise. I’ll make it up to you later. I promise.”

“How long will you be gone? Maybe I’ll wait right here for you.” She stretched, dragging the sheet to her waist, bribing him to stay.

“Tess.” Tom smirked pulling the sheet back up, covering her naked body. “Put those away. I have to go, and I hate to say it, but I’ll be gone most of the day. I had a bit of a…snafu with your present. If I’m running late, I’ll call. By the way, you know that beautiful gray dress I got for you the other day?” She nodded with excitement. “If I’m not back by seven o’clock, have it on and be ready to go.”

Tess laughed and shook her head.

“What’s so funny?”

“You never have snafu’s. I’ll be ready. Love you.” She raised up to kiss him, letting the sheet fall to her hips.

“You’re terrible.”

“It was worth a try.”

Tom kissed her lips, walked out the door and headed for the airport. There wasn’t anything in the world he wouldn’t do for Tess. Nothing. Including getting on plane, flying to Italy, picking up her daughter, and bringing her home for her birthday. Flu or no flu, Tess worried about JC and wanted her home.