Page 51 of Untamed Heart

Adam’s laughter sounded downright evil. “An innocent child? Please! That girl is a feral beast. She should be put down. And as far as why? It’s simple really. You thought you could just walk away from me and you wouldn’t suffer the consequences?”

His hand moved so fast it was a blur, leaving me no time to duck or brace for the brutal backhand across my cheek that took me to the ground. Before I had a chance to recover, the toe of his boot slammed into my ribs, knocking the wind right out of my lungs.

As I struggled for breath, I could hear Cassi screaming for him to stop. I knew he wouldn’t. Not on his own, so the only choice I had was to stop him myself.

TWENTY-FIVE

DAKOTA

“You thinkyou can just leave me?” Adam continued ranting as I lay on the floor, trying to pull air back into my lungs. “No one leaves me, you bitch!”

“No!” Cassi continued shouting through her tears. “Stop it! Leave my Kota alone!”

I had to fight. Not only for myself, but for that little girl. I had to fight for the life I finally had. I had to fight to keep all the good I’d found recently, all the love that had filled my life with so much happiness. I wasn’t going to give it up, damn it! I’d deserved this life for so long, and no one was going to take it from me. Especially not this monster, who had spent so many years beating me down I was almost convinced happiness didn’t exist.

I now knew that it did. Blissful happiness. And I wouldn’t let lesser men take that from me.

I let out a cry when Adam reached down and grabbed my hair, jerking me up. I knew what was coming next. It was Adam’s signature move. He balled his fist and reared back, preparing to punch me in the stomach. I couldn’t let him land that blow.

Before he could swing, I reached back and grabbed the switchblade from my pocket. Pressing the button on the side, the blade popped out, and I didn’t hesitate. I plunged it straight into Adam’s thigh, gritting my teeth and driving it in as deep as I could go before giving it a little twist.

Adam’s screams filled the small room. I wanted to smile, but there wasn’t time. With my hair out of his grip and him incapacitated, I made a run for Cassi. My girl had done exactly as I’d hoped and had already managed to get the hand I loosened free. I rushed to her, digging my nails into the tape and ripping at it, trying to find the end.

“It’s okay,” I panted, the pain in my ribs so bad each breath felt like fire. I knew from experience he’d broken my ribs, but with how hard it was becoming to breathe, I was afraid he might have punctured a lung, which meant I had to work fast to get Cassi out of here.

“It’s okay, baby. I got you. I’m here. I won’t let him hurt you.”

“Kota, watch out!”

Just as I got the last of the tape off, Adam moved, lunging at me from behind and taking me to the ground. I kicked and punched, fighting with every bit of strength I had left, which was quickly starting to fade.

A sharp pain in my side threatened to pull me under, causing stars to dance before my eyes, but I held on, refusing to let unconsciousness take hold as Adam climbed over me and wrapped his hands around my throat.

As I fought and clawed at his face, I vaguely recalled that Cassi’s tears had morphed into sounds of anger.

“Get off my Kota!” I heard as Cassi’s little face came into view. A new fear I’d never experienced took hold when I realized she had thrown herself onto Adam’s back and was holding on to his hair with a death grip.

Her little face was screwed with determination as she yanked and pulled and ripped, causing him to loosen his grip on my throat enough to pull in a much needed breath.

“Cassi, run!” I wheezed as I drove my thumb into one of Adam’s eyes as hard as I could. His weight left me as he screamed, cupping his injured eye as he rolled to his back.

Cassi had moved like a ninja, letting go and jumping out of the way in time to not get squished. Then she balled her fist and threw a punch aimed at his throat, just like she had with that little shithead, Bobby Handell. Unfortunately, she was a little off the mark.

Adam twisted, his sights set on her as he climbed to his feet with a growl.

The fear returned to Cassi’s eyes as she scuttled backward at his pursuit of her. Despite all the pain, despite the sharp stab in my ribs and the throbbing in my side, I shoved myself up. There was no way I was letting that bastard get to her.

“Cassi, move!” I shouted, barely having a chance to let out a sigh of relief that she listened before I shifted. I drew all the anger and rage this man ever made me feel, I pulled up the memory of every punch, every kick, and let it fuel me as I hunched over, keeping Adam in my sight.

On a yell, I charged him, catching a brief glimpse of the shock in his eyes when my shoulder collided with his gut. He let out a satisfyingoofwhen I hit him, but I didn’t give myself time to let up. I kept moving, digging my feet into the ground and driving forward like a goddamn linebacker.

I didn’t stop as we crashed through the door that led to the catwalk around the tower. I didn’t stop as his hands clawed at my shirt in a desperate attempt to grab hold. I didn’t stop until his weight suddenly disappeared from my shoulder and his shouts of fear filled the air. And when I finally,finally, stood up to see what happened, I discovered I’d managed to shove himright through the railing. The screams ended on a dull thud, and when I looked over the railing, I saw that he’d hit the ground below in such a way that I knew, without a shadow of doubt, he hadn’t survived that fall.

“Kota!” Cassi slammed into me, jostling my ribs and battered body painfully as she latched on, crying and hugging me for all she was worth.

The pain in my side was agonizing, but I didn’t care. I wrapped her in my arms and ushered us back from the ledge and into the safety of the watchtower.

“Shh, shh,” I soothed as she sobbed into my stomach. She was safe, and Adam would never hurt either of us again. That was all that mattered. “It’s okay, baby. It’s over. You’re safe.”