Cursed Love: Cursed Love (Cursed, #1) (19 page)

I released my grip from his arm and pushed the clothing in front of us to the side. Moving to stand, I slowly turned the doorknob and pushed it open. Dault got up and followed me through the closet and out of the room.

There were no other sounds running through the house other than our footsteps. As we started to walk down the hallway, I could see his mom’s body lying on the ground.

The closer we got, the faster my heart began to race.

Daulton pushed ahead of me and ran toward his mom. A scream burst through the walls of the house and my eyes saw a body lying in front of us.

Blood was everywhere—the walls, the floor, and now all over Daulton. He tried everything he could to make her wake up, but her body was just lying there.

“Linc, go call the cops. He’s done it this time; I think he’s really hurt mama.”

Daulton’s body was shaking and tears were running down the side of his cheeks. My body was frozen in place I couldn’t move; all I was able to do was stare at his mom on the floor.

“Please, Linc, go call the police. Mama needs our help.”

I rushed over to the kitchen and dialed 911 as fast as I could.

While I answered the questions of the lady on the other line, all I kept thinking to myself was that it had to be a dream…a really bad dream.

My body begins to stir and my eyes slowly open. I’m somewhat disoriented and confused. I scan the room and suddenly remember where I am.

The rapid beat of my heart is pounding through my chest; the images of that night still play through my mind even with my eyes wide open. It feels like it was only yesterday, even though it was so many years ago. As always, my body is covered in sweat and my head is starting to pound.

Fucking hell!

When will this shit storm of a past ever stop invading my mind? My memories are painful; I can’t go on like this.

I bring my hands to my face and wipe the sweat off of my forehead.

Last night is a complete blur, and I can only hope I didn’t do something I know I’ll regret.

I move my arms to feel the bed alongside of me—it’s cold and empty.

I roll onto my side and peel the sheet off of my body. I’m still completely dressed, which is a good sign, but I have no clue where the fuck I am.

My eyes dart to the bedroom door as it swings open and tall blonde walks toward me.

“Well, good morning, Linc. I didn’t think you’d ever wake up.”

I scrunch my brows in confusion.
How much did I have to drink last night that I can’t remember anything?

“I made us some coffee and breakfast,” she says, handing me a mug.

“Thanks, I really appreciate it, but I have to get going.”

I set the mug on the nightstand and get up off of the bed.

She stands in front of me and wraps her arms around my waist.

“You don’t have to leave yet, baby. We still have a lot of unfinished business to attend to. You passed out on me last night and you still owe me a good time.”

I pull away from her and walk toward the door. She grabs for my arm and I turn to face her pouting lips.

“Look, I don’t know what the hell happened or how I even got here last night. I’m sorry for whatever you thought was going to happen, but it’s not. I have to go,
now
.”

She crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a death glare.

“You fucking prick, you teased me all night at the bar and now you’re just going to leave?”

What the fuck is she talking about?
I don’t even remember talking to her at the bar last night.

“Pretty much,” I reply, walking away from her.

Being a dickhead isn’t something I’m accustomed to doing anymore; it’s been a long time since I pulled the
love ‘em and leave ‘em
escape.

Grabbing my keys off the table by the door, I let myself out of the apartment and down the stairs.

I hear her footsteps rushing toward the door and the loud bang of her door slamming shut echoes through the stairwell. I can hear her cursing me as I make my way to the front door of the apartment building.

My thoughts are going a mile a minute and I hate what I’ve just done. At least knowing that I didn’t fuck her gives me hope that I was
somewhat
thinking last night.

I get into my car and screech the tires down the street.

A vision of leaving my house last night flashes in front of me and a sick feeling hits the bottom of my stomach.

I can only hope that Etty was smart enough to walk away from Daulton after I left. She’s too good to be pulled down by him and his whorish lifestyle.

Right now they’re two of the most important people in my life; I can’t have him hurting her.

Etty has taught me a lot in the short time I’ve known her. She’s full of life and wants only the best for those she surrounds herself with. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know that I’d have realized how much I really do care about Jo. She’s shown me what it means to love someone; she’s helped me open my eyes and heart to the possibilities of what I could have in my life.

I just need to make things right and find my Jo. After my mistake of going home with that girl last night, I know now that I need to get my priorities in order. I have my shop, my love and passion for my career, and now I need to get Jo back and tell her how much she really does mean to me. I love her.

Pulling my car in front my house, I quickly jump out and head toward the porch. I walk inside to see that Dault is sitting on the couch with coffee in hand.

I nod my head toward him and walk into the kitchen. As I reach for a mug out of the cabinet, I hear him clear his throat from behind me.

Turning to face him, I know that I need to talk to him about how I left things yesterday.

“Look, before you say anything, I want to apologize for last night. I get that it’s not my place to tell Etty what to do. It’s just that I know you and your wicked ways.”

He gives me a cocky glare and I can only imagine his words that are going to hit me.

“Well then, maybe you should’ve stayed to babysit her a while longer.”

He has a smug smirk plastered across his face.

“Dault, please tell me you didn’t.”

I set the mug down on the counter and clench my fists to my side.

“Oh I did, not once but….”

I rush toward him and push him up against the wall. I’m furious with him.
How could he do the one thing I asked him not to do?

“You stupid motherfucker, how could you? Any other girl in Birmingham is fair game; why the fuck did you have to touch
her
?”

My hands are up against his chest as I have him pinned between my body and the wall.

“Dude, she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. What’s the fucking big deal?”

“She’s torn, Dault. She’s broken in more ways than one and doesn’t need your shit clouding her head. I know you and exactly what’s going to happen next.”

“Well, for what it’s worth, she was the best lay I’ve had in a long time.”

Before any thoughts can enter my mind, my fist is making contact with his face.

His head bangs against the wall and he brings his hands up to my chest to push me away.

Hands, fists, and arms are tangled together as we push, shove, and throw punches at one another.

He finds an escape from the wall and moves out of my grasp.

My fist flies toward him and I make contact with his face again.

He stumbles into the kitchen table and trips over the chair. Falling to the ground, I lean down to punch him in the stomach.

I hear the front door swing open and Etty comes rushing into the kitchen.

“Linc, get off of him!”

The fury raging inside of me takes over and I continue to punch him square in the jaw. He shields his face with his arms and tries to squirm out from under me.

Etty’s small hands pull at my arms and my gaze drifts from Dault to her.

The look on her face is of pure fear. The moment passes by as I stare into her eyes.

Dault pushes me off of him and I slump to the floor.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Etty asks.

I bring my head into my hands and can’t believe I allowed myself to lose control. She means so much to me that any thought of what was happening flew out the window.

Dault gets up and rushes out of the room.

“Dault, wait!” Etty cries. “What the fuck, Linc? What’s gotten into you?”

I hear her footsteps follow behind him and I’m left alone to deal with what I’ve just done.
 

Chapter 24

When I woke up this morning I was in bed alone. It’s not that I thought he’d actually spend the night with me, I guess it was just wishful thinking on my part.

Dault showed me a world of passion last night that I didn’t know was possible. He may have been hard and fast with his sexual acts, but he made certain I was taken care of in more ways than one.

His touch still lingers on my skin and the smell of him is all over my room.

My eyes are still sleepy and I can feel a wonderful soreness between my legs. I’d love to go next door and see if last night was just as meaningful to him, but I can’t get my hopes up knowing very well it was just a hook up.

I get out of bed and pull on a hoodie and sweats. Running down the stairs, I can hear muffled noises coming from Linc and Dault’s house. I barge through the door to make sure they’re both okay, but the sight before me is one that I don’t expect.

Linc is on top of Daulton, punching his fists into Dault’s face.

I can’t believe what’s happening and I have a clue as to why Linc is taking it all out on Dault.

After pulling Linc up off the floor, Dault storms out of the house.

I rush out the door to follow him, but as soon as I’m by his side, he puts his hands up to stop me.

“Etty, I’m an ass. Stay as far away from me as you can.”

My mouth falls open and I take a step closer.

“What are you talking about?” I ask him, my voice quivering.

“Etty, look, last night was great and all, but you’re not the girl for me. No girl is. Maybe we shouldn’t have done what we did last night, but to tell you the truth, it was a mistake. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

His words hit me hard; it’s like he just punched me in the stomach. I watch as he gets into his car and pulls away.

I knew that a relationship between us wasn’t possible, but the words he just spat at me crush me to pieces. I turn to look at the house. The life I’ve lived for the past three years destroyed me. I was hoping for a fresh start, but any chances of that happening now are destroyed.

My eyes settle on Linc who is now standing in the doorway of his house. I don’t know if I should talk to him or run to my house and hide.

He walks toward me and extends his hand out to me. I move to him and fall into his chest as the tears begin to fall from my face.

“I won’t tell you I told you so, Etty, but I’m here for you.”

I look up to him; I’m devastated and feel like I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life.

“Linc, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was weak and fell into a desire I knew wasn’t going to go anywhere. It hurts. The things he just said to me were unnecessary. Why did he have to do this to me?”

Linc pulls my in tight against his side and walks me to my front door.

“It’s nothing personal to you, Etty, it’s just the way he is. He’s never attached himself to another human being. We’re a lot alike that way. I’m sorry he hurt you. I wanted to protect you from this, but I understand why you did what you did. It’s all going to be okay, I’ll make sure of it.”

I reach for his hand to see that there’s blood covering his knuckles.

“You need to clean this up, Linc.”

“I know. I’ll take care of it, I just needed to know that you were okay.”

“I’m not okay, Linc, but I’ll live.”

“Go upstairs and take a shower. I’ll be right here waiting for you. We’ll talk about it when you come over.”

“Thanks, Linc. I need a friend, and it seems you’re the only one I can count on right now.”

“I’ll always be here for you, Etty, never forget that.”

I pull away from him and head into my house. My eyes are filled with tears and I could smack myself for being so foolish.

Heading upstairs to my room, I rub my hands over my face.

I’m so fucking stupid.

I pull the sheets off of the bed and throw them to the floor. I need to wash them so that there’s no trace of what I did last night.

My body feels sore from our one night of passion, but it’s a night that I’ll need to forget.

It’s going to be more than awkward when I see him again. I should’ve known better than to let myself fall into his trap. Regardless of my attraction to him, Linc warned me.  

I grab a change of clothes and make my way to the bathroom. A hot shower will help me for the time being, and then I’ll go back over to Linc and find a way to erase the memories of the man that ripped out my soul.