New Orleans

28. Deadlock

Hooded eyes scanned me leisurely. "Finally, some alone time." The curl of his lip had my finger sinking into the trigger once more. Max's head shot up to the bullet hole now tainting the ceiling. Driving my knee into his crotch, I snatched my arm free. Cupping his manhood, he cried out a string of curses. Before he could straighten, I aimed the barrel at his hunched over frame and unloaded the entire clip. My eyes widened in horror at the empty clicks that proceeded.

Fuck, that rookie mistake might just cost you your life! My subconscious berated me. I hadn't even checked if the chambers had been full.

He began to laugh; it was a sick, guttural sound that made my skin crawl. He recovered surprisingly fast; crossing the threshold, he kicked the door shut behind himself. I wanted nothing more than to cut his throat open and watch him choke on his own blood. It was a disturbing thought, even more so was the satisfaction the prospect brought. Heavy booted strides ate up the space between us. Running his fingers over the flawless silver frame of my father's gun, he leaned down as if to console a small child. The smug bastard's condescension was enough to trigger me. Sliding my grip from the gun's handle to its barrel, I swung it through the air.

His head jerked to the right painfully, as the gun's heavy base connected with his face. Grating his teeth together, he glowered at me. "Naughty, naughty...." The muscle in his jaw ticked furiously. Lifting the gun once more I propelled it forward. Prepared this time, he caught my wrist midair. Rotating my arm with ease, he forced the gun free from my hold. Falling to the tiled floor noisily, it slid across the flawless white surface. Crying out as he contorted the small bone further—extending my arm and twisting the elbow towards the ceiling—I clawed at his large fingers.

Seizing my jaw with his free hand, he hauled me forward. Slamming his lips against mine, he forced his tongue into my mouth. Cringing, I felt the biting sting of bile rise to the back of my throat. My blood boiled and I could hear the monster within rattle at its chains. I told my mind to be still, to control the rage rather than allowing it to consume me. Max was too large to subdue with strength alone. Stiffening, I gripped the base of his neck with my free hand. Allowing him to deepen the kiss, I drew him closer.

Freeing my arm, he clutched the nape of my neck; letting his guard down. Fucking idiot. Knocking elbows, I cut both his arms down with mine. Planting my right foot behind myself, I lifted my balled fists to my chest. Drawing my right elbow back, I released it with enough momentum to force my jaw to clench. My knuckles met his right cheek bone in a swift collision.

Without a second thought I flipped, shooting up the stairs. My right leg was suddenly yanked out from under me; my body crashed to the steps with an unforgiving thud. It was hard to tell which limb took a majority of the impact, everything hurt. Wrapping his fingers around my ankle he dragged me back, flipping me simultaneously. Upon my bodies forceful decent, my spine grazed the edge of several steps; it was all I could do to hold my head up and avoid any cranial damage.

Crying out my anguish, I screamed. "Get the fuck off me! I'll fucking kill you!" My palms shoved against his chest in a desperate attempt to maintain some distance from his repulsive presence.

"Trammel taught you well beautiful...not well enough..." He growled, panting with excitement. Clawing at the air, I managed to strike the left hand side of his face. The skin reddened immediately, revealing three deep scratches beginning to draw tiny beads of blood. Clenching his jaw he sneered down at me. "Bitch-you wanna play rough?" Gathering both my wrists in one of his brutish hands, he pinned them to the step above my head.

Gripping my neck roughly, he began to strangle me. Squirming beneath him, I choked out several coughs. My lungs seared with desperation, needing oxygen. Lowering his mouth to my chin, he bit my flesh violently. Screaming in protest, I silently prayed that Reece would return. I was embarrassingly outgunned. Taking advantage of the sick bastards need to shift into position, I kicked out his right leg. Collapsing on top of me, he loosened his grip on my writs in shock; the nanosecdo it provided was enough.