“Jayden, that’s his name, huh?” He raised his eyebrows and took the knife from her hand. “I never would have put you down as a bitch who likes a bit of rough, ’cause that’s what he is. Your father told me all about Hudson and his gang. They don’t exactly play on the right side of the law.”
“So you should know who you’re dealing with.” She steeled herself. A punch or a slap would be coming her way soon. “You won’t be able to bully him the way you’ve bullied me all ofthese years.”
“Bully.” He gripped her upper arm. “I was just keeping you in line, you stupid bitch. And it’s clear I need to. Look what happened the minute you had your own way. Shacked up with some biker dude. God knows what kind of influence he’s having on my kid.”
“He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be, he—” Suddenly, searing pain sliced over her left cheek, and her neck wrenched to the right. “Argh!”
He’d slapped her. Hard.
“Shut the hell up.” His eyes glinted with madness and rage.
“Daddy, no.”
“Stay there, Zak. Your mother has forgotten who is in charge of this family, and she needs reminding.”
“Leave me alone,” Tammy said, tasting blood and touching her cheek. “You can’t do this to me anymore. I—”
Bang. Bang.
“Tammy. Open the door.”
Jayden. He’s here.
Gary spun around. “Who is that?”
She didn’t answer.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Pause. “Tell him to leave.”
“No.”
“Tell him to fucking leave.” He snatched her close and placed the knife at her neck. It wasn’t a razor-sharp knife, but still, the cool metal pressed into her flesh. “Now.”
She gasped. Hating being so close to him. Hating the knife even more. He was a loose cannon. She had no idea how far he’d go. “He won’t leave.” Her voice shook. “Even if I tell him to.”
He slid the knife on her skin, so the tiny teeth scratched and no doubt left a mark alongside the hickey.
“Try,” he snarled. “Tell him to fuck off.”
She was shaking, her knees weak. “Jayden,” she called. “You need to leave.”
Silence.
Her breaths were hard to catch, and she was shaking. Her cheek was on fire. Blood laced her tongue.
Did he leave?
Had Jayden abandoned her when she needed him most?
No, he won’t do that.
Suddenly, there was a huge, almost deafening thump, then a crash. The door flew completely off its hinges, clattering against the wall. Then it fell to the floor and skidded to a halt behind the sofa.
Zak squealed and dived onto the chair, curling into a ball.
Jayden stepped in from the bright light of day and paused for a split second. The moment his gaze fell on Gary holding a knife at her neck, he whipped out his gun and pointed it their way.
Tammy was both relieved to see him and terrified that his gun had been drawn.