Page 60 of Obey

Another blow and the door splintered, wood cracking around the lock. “Trey!”

One final hit sent it flying inward and Try stormed through the doorway, his eyes finding me pinned beneath Preston.

Preston released my wrists immediately and scrambled off me.

“Whoa, hold on, man.” He raised both hands as Trey approached. “This isn't what it looks like. Sloane's upset, and I'm just trying to calm her down.”

Trey looked at me, then at the marks already forming around my wrists.

“Look, we had an argument. She got hysterical, and I was trying to keep her from doing something stupid.”

I barely had time to push myself upright before Trey's fist connected with his jaw and sent him staggering into the wall.

“Trey!” I shouted.

He didn't even glance at me. “You put your fucking hands on her?”

“Man, I didn't—”

Another punch cut him off and Preston swung wildly, catching Trey in the ribs, but Trey drove him backward and landed another blow that sent him sprawling onto the floor.

“Trey, stop!”

He followed Preston down, grabbing a fistful of his shirt and pulling him halfway off the floor as Preston tried to shield his face. “Nah, don't cover up now, bitch. You wanted to put hands on somebody? Put 'em on me.”

“Trey, please!” I stumbled toward them, my head throbbing with every movement. But I had to stop him. The last thing I needed was my friend getting arrested for killing him.

He drew his arm back again and I caught his forearm with both hands. His fist remained suspended for a moment before he finally looked at me.

“Please,” I sobbed. “Please, stop. I just want to go.”

Whatever he saw on my face made him release his shirt and Preston fell back against the floor, groaning. Trey turned toward me, his chest rising and falling hard.

“Shit, Sloane.”

He pulled me against him, careful of my head, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Come on. We're getting you out of here.” he murmured as he retrieved my suitcase with his free hand and guided me toward the broken front door. “It's okay, I've got you. You're safe.”

He kept me close as we made our way out of the apartment. I barely registered the elevator ride or the cold air hitting my face when we stepped outside. All I could think about was getting as far away from Preston as possible.

Trey helped me into his car, then circled around to the driver's side. Before pulling away, he glanced over at me.

“What hurts, baby girl?”

“My head,” I admitted, reaching toward the back of it. “I hit it when he pushed me.”

His expression grew stern. “We're going to the hospital.”

“No.” I shook my head, immediately regretting it when pain pulsed through my skull. “Please, Trey. I just want to leave.”

He studied me for a moment before putting the car in drive.

I refused to go to the hospital at first.

All I wanted was a shower, some sleep, and enough distance from Preston to pretend the whole nightmare was over. But as the evening wore on, the headache only grew worse.

By the time Trey threatened to call an ambulance if I didn't let him drive me himself, it was well after midnight, and I was too exhausted to argue.