Still Surviving (29 page)

Tiff’s name flashed in my notifications, and I smiled like a damn idiot.

Tiff:
I’m snowed in.

Shit… I knew this was going to happen.

Me:
I’ll come get you
.

Her response didn’t take long.

Tiff:
No, I’ll get a ride from Rand.

I tried to not feel disappointed.

Me:
I have something planned.

Tiff:
Do you now… do tell.

I laughed and shook my head as I typed out the next text.

Me:
I don’t want to ruin it… it’s not dirty. Don’t get your hopes up.

Tiff:
Too late.

Those two words… those two damn words. She knew every button.

Me:
Now I’m definitely coming to get you. My plans can wait. I want to bend you over that fucking front desk and taste you. See how long it takes before you lose control… this time.

Tiff:
Seth

Me:
Angel

My smile was evil. I could picture her sitting in her booth, looking over her phone, cheeks flushed, at the desk that Rand sat in.

Tiff:
I’d like that.

I typed quickly. I was ready to play this out in reality.

Me:
Take your panties off. I’ll be there as soon as I can

.

Tiff:
Just be safe. I’ll be here, waiting… xoxo

I grabbed my wallet and keys before I headed for the front door. Lily was sleeping on the couch, and Todd had left for work. I quietly grabbed my coat and opened the door.

“Seth, drive carefully.” Lily’s sleepy tone was cute.

“Keep your bun in the oven.” My smile spread as she grinned back at me.

“Tell Tiff I’ll see her later.”

I nodded just as I shut the door behind me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Tiffany

“H
E’S ON HIS WAY THEN
?” Rand grabbed his bag and pulled it over his shoulder.

“He said he was coming.” I looked at the clock. The shop closed early on Wednesdays, and it was a little after eight.

“I have a feeling that’s always his plan,” Rand smirked, and I furrowed my brow.

“You’re disgusting.” I threw a pen at him, and he ducked in the nick of time.

He laughed. “Am I?” He titled his head to the side and let his eyes run along the length of my frame. “That man gets you, Tiff, I can tell. You blush every time he walks in here or texts you. Hun, if he batted for my team, I’d let him do whatever he wanted. No. Hard. Limits.”

“Rand, get the hell out of here.” I tried to sound angry and shocked, but my giggle erupted anyway.

“See you tomorrow. Behave and drive safely. This weather sucks.”

The front door chimed and I waved, “Bye, babe. You be careful, too, please.”

“Every day of my life.” He waved back.

I walked over and locked the door. The windows were fogged from the heat of the shop. It was freezing outside, and I hated how long it was taking Seth to get here. It’s crazy how much love can take you every which way. I had never cared about another man like this, not one. This Christmas was the first holiday since Anna died that I actually felt like I had a family. Being with Todd, Lily, Molly, and Seth… celebrating with Liz and Sawyer, having dinner with Seth’s family — it was like I was a part of something again, I was finally home. Seth gave me that; Seth gave me everything I ever wanted. He had no clue how much he had done for me. My heart was no longer black with fear and regret. I didn’t need my parents. I had a family now, and it started and ended each day with Seth… with the love he gave me.

It should scare me… to fully give my entire soul to another person, but it didn’t. There was just no doubt in my mind that I was his. These past few months proved that I had truly started to live again.

I pulled the blinds shut and turned the front lights off. Rand’s desk was barely lit. My booth was the only one that had its lights still on. I chuckled as my fingers grazed the surface of the wood desk. Seth could be loving… he could make me feel like I was the most precious thing on the planet. But I also liked the darker sides of him. His firm touch, his rough words, his power… it was fierce, and I craved it. It was different with him. He didn’t want to hurt me… he wanted to push my boundaries, show me how he could own me one second and sooth me the next. Hard and soft, lust and love… it was just his way, and it was exactly what I needed.

My phone rang, and I pulled it from my pocket and saw it was Seth calling.

“Hey there.” My lips pulled into a broad smile.

“Hey.” I could hear the smile in his voice and if I closed my eyes I could picture it.

“Are you almost here?” I let my eyes fall shut and let his voice filter through the speaker. His smile clear in my mind. That crease in his cheek, not quite a dimple, made his face light up even more.

“I’m stuck in traffic, babe. Probably another thirty minutes… at least. I feel bad. I should have just let Rand bring you home. Are you alone?”

“I am… should I start without you?” I smirked as he hissed on the other end.

“Fuck, don’t say that to me… did you take your panties off like I asked?” His voice was deep and restrained.

“No, not yet. I could… start without you if that’s what you wanted.” The soft tone of my voice made me cringe. I felt silly. I wasn’t good at this.

“Fuck, that’s sexy.” His voice was thick with need. “Damn it, Tiff. I’m trapped in this traffic, and now all I can think about is you spread out on that desk with your hands between your legs… Talk about distracted driving.” His laughter was light.

“I’ll wait, if it means you get here safe and soon.” My lips curved into a grin.

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“I’m sure you will. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

My smile was ridiculous as I hit the end button on the phone. My gaze flicked up, and I dropped my phone. “Holy shit, you scared me, Scott. What the hell!” I bent down and picked up my cell. “How long have you been here?”

He was wearing his usual snug fitting jeans, his brown thermal shirt stretched across his massive chest. He looked tired though. “Long enough.” He brushed past me and started rustling through Rand’s desk drawer.

“What does that mean?” The rude tone of voice he used wasn’t appreciated.

He stopped what he was doing and glared at me. “How’s your boyfriend?”

I rolled my shoulders back prideful. His sarcasm irritated me. “He’s running late… unfortunately.” He took a deep breath and continued to search through Rand’s things. “When did you get back?”

I hardly ever saw Scott now that he managed the Vegas shop. He only came up here to meet with Tony or to see his family. I had heard he still kept his apartment for such occasions. Seeing him again stirred my stomach, but not in a good way.

Scott apparently found what he had been looking for and shut the top drawer. “Yesterday. Don’t worry… I’m not here too long.”

He sounded worn out and sad, and for some reason, I pitied him. “Scott… listen. I know things with us—“

“There was never an “us,” Tiff.” Scott’s large frame hovered over me. He was too close, his familiar scent too heavy as he filled my personal space. “I just fucked you… that’s all you were… a worthless lay.” His vindictive grin spread as my eyes filled with angry tears.

“You’re a son of bitch.” I started to turn, and he grabbed my bicep with a powerful grip.

“
Don’t ever fucking talk to me like that, you little bitch.
” He pulled me hard against his body, his nails digging into my arm. His breath reeked of alcohol.

“You’re drunk and you’re hurting me… let go!” I pleaded as I tried to pull away. He grabbed my chin crudely with his left hand holding me still.

“Good. Don’t fucking come into my shop, think you can flaunt your whore ass in front of me, fuck me, and then turn around and let some other punk take what was supposed to me mine. You’re lucky, Tiff. You’re lucky I didn’t—“

“I was just a worthless lay, so why do you give a shit.” The words poured from me like venom.

I was so focused on cutting him down, like he had done to me that I wasn’t prepared… I wasn’t prepared for what would happen next.

He pulled back, dropping my face from his hold. Swiftly, just quick enough that I wasn’t able to dodge it, he backhanded me. The sting of fire along my cheekbone seared. My eyes watered from the pain. “
Don’t fucking talk to me like that!
”

The throbbing in my ear started to make me nauseated as he pulled me back toward my booth. He shoved me against the mirror and wrapped his hands around my throat. I clawed at his arms and kicked with everything I had. This wasn’t happening, this couldn’t happen. The lights of the room started to burst into black dots. Scott’s hold was unyielding. His immense strength lifted me up off the ground, and my tiptoes dusted the shop floor as he dragged me over to the padded table. He turned me over onto my stomach. His grip lessened as he flung me across the vinyl surface.

The air hit my throat like razor blades, but I drank it down. I sucked in every bit of my last chance. This was only going to end in one way, and I’d rather fight until I was fucking dead then ever be taken by force again.

I rolled onto my side, and the giant breath of air I gulped made me cough. Scott laughed, and, for a minute, I thought maybe he was done. Maybe he’d gotten his anger out. I attempted to sit up, but before I had the chance, he backhanded me again… this time he had his full strength behind it, and the knuckles of his fingers tore the flesh off my cheekbone. Everything started to spin.

He was shouting at me, telling me how I deserved this, how I’d asked for it as he started to choke me again. I felt his skin rip under my nails as I fought to breathe. I felt my legs and feet make purchase on his body, but still, the light… that flawless light faded. The black specks in my vision multiplied as he lifted his right hand from my neck, his left like a vice still, stealing my life. He reached over my body, and I kicked. I tried to scream. He wouldn’t have me… he wouldn’t take that from me.

“Goddammit.” He hollered at me like I was just an errant child as I fought. My vision was blurry, so I didn’t see his right hand in time. I didn’t see that he had grabbed something from my station. All I felt was blunt pressure… pain, before everything started to really fade. I heard his deep growl as the last illumination around my eyes started to shatter.

I
STOPPED FIGHTING AND
let the warmth cover me. I stopped crying and closed my eyes. I focused on
his
voice. How it sounded, how only his words, his tenor mattered to me in this moment. “Hey there,” I said with a smile.

“Hey Angel.” His smile so brilliant. His face so divine. I laughed quietly as he took my hand in his.

“You know… I always thought you were more like an angel than me.” It felt good as he pulled me into his arms. His lips soft on my forehead.

“How so?” he asked.

“You brought me heaven.”

Seth’s smile was so vibrant it made everything in my body go numb. I couldn’t feel agony anymore. Even in death he was healing me, making me feel strong, and relieving all that pain.

I felt the weight building in my stomach, the gray, dim light almost gone.

“Come on, Tiffany.” Her voice it was clear as day.

“Hold on, Sissy.”

“There’s no time.” Anna pulled at my hand. “Please, please hurry, you can’t stay here.”

“I’m not ready to go yet. He’ll be here soon, Sis.” I smiled at her worried expression.”

She shook her head.

“I’ve missed you.” My words were faint.

Anna looked down at the ground; her hair obscured her face. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered before everything disappeared.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Seth

I
T WAS A COMPLETE
whiteout on the freeway. By the time I finally got to Magnolia, I was forty-five minutes late. The lights were off in the shop, so I pulled around the back to park. I had called Tiff about fifteen minutes ago to tell her I was almost there, but she hadn't answered. The lot was empty except for her car, my smile widened. Tiff’s piece of junk wouldn’t have made it two miles in this snow. I parked and checked my phone; she still hadn’t replied. I dialed her number and waited for an answer, still nothing.