Sequoia Valley: Risk (Free Preview)

8

After leaving the park and the women behind, Aileen began to visit stores and restaurants for her usual inquiries about employment. The results were hardly worth thinking about. She kept moving farther and farther away from the safety of her apartment’s locality in her desperation, but she still found nothing. The jobs she could do and didn’t need an education for were taken; the jobs that were available required education or experience and none of the positions offered on-the-job training. 

Am I just wasting my time? she wondered hopelessly as she exited a bookstore. Will I never find a job? 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice—one that was still embedded into her memory and filled her nightmares. “Aileen.”

She froze in her tracks, unable to move. No! she thought desperately. Not him! Not now! How did he recognize me?! 

“Aileen,” he repeated in the cold tone that had always sent chills up her spine when they lived together. A strong, bruising hand settled on her shoulder, squeezing. “I know it’s you. How stupid do you think I am that I can’t recognize my own girlfriend?”

Without giving her a choice in the matter, he forced her to turn, facing him. Staring into those blue eyes—eyes she’d once been attracted but now seemed cold and cruel—shivers of fear traveled up her spine. She had to get away. There was no alternative. For if she didn’t, he would never let her out of his sight again.

He looked her up and down with a sneer. “Who put you up to it? Leaving? Dressing like this? Your new boyfriend?”

That was another thing about Jeremy she hadn’t missed—the unreasonable accusations. Even when she’d never left the house, he’d been constantly accusing her of cheating on him. Of course that always led to being punished for her assumed infidelity. 

“No,” she said honestly. “I don’t have a new boyfriend.” For a moment, she wished she did—someone who would protect her from this monster she’d made the mistake of involving herself with; someone who would treat her kindly and really love her. 

Without warning, Jeremy drew back a hand and slapped her across the face, seeming to forget where they were; in public instead of at home where he could do as he wished without consequences. 

The impact was so strong she lost her balance and fell backward to the pavement, hitting her head. She tasted blood in her mouth.

“Don’t lie to me!” he raged. “I know there’s someone! You’ve always been a hussy!”

She didn’t reply. There was no use arguing with him. It would make him angrier and possibly more violent. Instead, her eyes scanned her surroundings desperately for any signs of someone that might step in to help. Pulling out her phone to call for help as he stood over her wasn’t going to work. He’d grab the phone as soon as he saw it. To her dismay, however, there wasn’t a person in sight, and when she looked toward the window of the bookstore in the hope of finding help there, the employee behind the counter was reading a book and paying no attention to anything happening outside. 

“Never mind who he is,” Jeremy said, bringing her attention back to him. “Whatever stupid thing you’ve done stops now. You’re coming with me. We’re going to have to move someplace else. The cops are watching my place.”

No! As he grabbed onto her arm and roughly pulled her to her feet, starting to drag her away, she struggled with as much strength as she could. “I’m not going anywhere with you!”

Thankfully, more than a month away from Jeremy had healed her broken body and she was far stronger than she’d been the last time she’d seen him. To her advantage, he’d probably not been expecting that kind of response. She’d always been quietly obedient to his commands. Her strong yank sent her in the opposite direction of his movement, causing her to lose her balance and fall for a second time against the hard pavement, this time hitting the side of her head.