“Yes.” She lifted her chin. “And you don’t want to meet him or his friends. Get out before I scream and bring them running.”
They wouldn’t hear her, but he didn’t know that. She just had to convince him otherwise.
A vicious sneer replaced his desperate smile. “Is that what you think? That your big, strong cowboy will come save you?” He stepped closer, close enough that she could smell the sour whiskey on his breath, the chemical tang of whatever else was in his system. “Nobody knows I’m here, Magnolia. I borrowed your friend’s car and snuck in, right past that scary-ass security guy. Nobody’s coming.”
Oh, God. What friend? Who had he hurt?
“You’re wrong.” She tightened her grip on the hammer, calculating the distance between them. One good swing if he came any closer. “Anson will be back any minute.”
“I watched him leave with some guy built like a linebacker. They headed for the barn on the other side of the property.” His eyes never left her face. “We have time.”
“Time for what?” She edged sideways, trying to keep the bed between them. “I told you, there’s nothing to talk about.”
“One episode, Maggie. Give me a chance to show them I’ve still got it. That we’ve still got it.”
“That’s not happening. Ever.”
“They’ll give me a second chance if you vouch for me.” His voice took on a wheedling tone. “You owe me that much.”
“I don’t owe you anything. And even if I did, even if I gave you the episode, it wouldn’t change a damn thing for you. My God, have you seen yourself lately? You think you’re camera-ready?”
“You owe me everything.” He slammed his fist against the wall, making her jump. “I gave you your start! I convinced Harris to give you that first guest spot. Without me, you’d still be posting shitty DIY videos on YouTube!”
“You bastard. I’ve earned everything I have.”
“On your knees?” His lip curled into a sneer. “Is that how you convinced them to move the show here?”
Pure, white-hot rage flooded her veins. “Get. Out.”
He lunged, and she swung the hammer in a wild arc. The metal head connected with his shoulder. He howled, stumbling backward, eyes wide with shock and rage.
“You crazy bitch!”
She gripped the hammer tighter, adrenaline surging through her veins as she raised it again. “I told you to leave.”
He lunged again and caught the flannel shirt in his fist. He yanked, and the momentum ripped the buttons, exposing her breast to his lecherous gaze.
She tried to hit him again, but his other hand shot out with shocking speed and caught her wrist in a bruising grip.
“Always so fucking stubborn.” He squeezed until her fingers went numb, and the hammer tumbled to the floor. “It would be so easy, Magnolia. Just tell Harris you want to do one episode with me.”
“Let go of me.” She tried to twist free, but his grip was unrelenting.
“Or what?” He yanked her closer, his breath hot against her face. “You’re going to sic your cowboy boyfriend on me? Or maybe his inbred friends?”
She spat in his face.
It happened so fast. His free hand cracked across her cheek, snapping her head to the side. Stars burst behind her eyes. Then he was shoving her backward, slamming her against the wall hard enough to knock the air from her lungs.
“Look what you made me do,” he hissed, pressing his forearm across her throat. His other hand pinned both her wrists above her head. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I never want to hurt you. Why do you make everything so difficult?”
She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak. Black spots danced at the edges of her vision.
“Just say yes,” he urged, easing the pressure slightly. “Say you’ll help me, and this can all be over. We can go back to how things were.”
“Go… to… hell.”
His face contorted with rage. He pressed harder against her throat, and she felt herself fading, the edges of the room going dark.
