My vision starts swimming. Black spots dance at the edges. My fingers pinch his arms, but he doesn’t budge.
He keeps talking. Listing off everything he hates about me. Every way I’ve disappointed him. Every reason I’m worthless.
I see a tear stream down his face.
But the pressure on my throat never lets up.
I can’t control my limbs anymore. My ears go numb.
Everything turns black.
Pain radiates through my body. My throat. My ass. My arms. My hands. Everything.
Someone’s pushing me. Over and over.
“Wake up, Lily! Wake up!”
I open my eyes. Zinnia’s frantic face hovers above mine.
My neck is kinked, trying to adjust my sight to the light. I think I’m on the floor. When did I end up on the floor?
My eyes adjust slowly. I see two figures in the living room. Shoving. Throwing arms. Then a loud crash.
Zinnia screams. “Get up! Lily! Get up!”
She pulls at my arm, but my body feels so heavy. Like I’m underwater. My lungs burn. I start coughing and can’t stop.
A familiar figure walks over. Is that Zephyr?
I’m confused. Why is Zephyr here?
He looks at the two men fighting, and then over at me.
“Tiger,” Zephyr says, glancing at the fight. “Come on.”
“No!” My dad shouts.
Zinnia isn’t hesitant. She runs outside first as Zephyr gives me a hand, but my body fucking aches.
My dad shoves Jax backward and kicks him hard when he’s on the ground. Then he rushes toward the hallway closet.
My gut sinks.
I know what he’s grabbing.
“Get out,” I rasp to Zinnia. My voice doesn’t sound like mine. “Go!”
My head’s fuzzy. My vision’s blurry. Everything feels light and heavy at the same time, but this time I don’t plan on dying. I’ll force my limbs to move and get out of this situation before anyone else gets hurt.
I stumble toward Jax. He’s on the floor coughing with blood on his face.
“Jax,” I try to say but nothing comes out. My throat’s on fire.
I hear the gun click.
Metal against metal.
I turn my head, and seeing the barrel pointed directly at us. My stomach lurches.
