A Changed Life (21 page)

“You don’t know what I feel for her, and she doesn’t either, but she will. Tonight Nicolette will know exactly how much I love her.” I left my father on the floor, and his home in search of Nicolette.

Like a song on repeat, I had listened to his voicemail over and over again. It brought me peace to know that Simon still loved me. I have been crying since last night, and my eyes are so swollen, I can barely see the screen on my phone. I should call Simon, and let him know that I’m ok. I love him so much and in the short time that we have been together, he owns my heart. I will do anything to have him remain there. Finally I call Simon. He picks up right away.

“Simon.”

“Oh, thank God. Baby, where you are?”

I can barely speak without crying, the sound of his panicked voice is making me cry harder. “I’m down at the beach, but parked at the marina.”

The beach? Of course my girl would be there. Why didn’t I go there first?

“Nicolette, I’m here with your father, and we have been searching all over for you. Please stay where you are. He wants to talk to you.”

“Nicolette, Sweetheart, I have been so worried about you, are you ok?” asked my father.

“Yes, Daddy, I’m fine. Sorry for worrying you and mom.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Nicolette, it’s me who should apologize to you. I am so sorry that you felt you needed to handle this problem with Michael on your own. I promise we are going to right this wrong, and everything will be worked out. I love you honey. We are on our way to you.”

Choking back my tears. “I love you too, Daddy.” I clutched my phone to my chest. I smiled for the first time since leaving Simon last night. I felt relief flooding through me, and I was so happy that Simon and I will move past our argument. I waited for Simon, and my father to arrive. The temperature began to change, and not wearing a jacket, I was getting cold. I turned around to head back to my car. I walked along the line of boats and, as I turned the corner, I was grabbed from behind.

As a strong hand covered my mouth I could hear a whisper in my ear, “DO… NOT… SCREAM.”

All I could do was obey. I was so afraid, and could not move. My body was being dragged down the same path I had just taken. My masked assailant picked me up, forcing me on to a boat named Lydia’s Joy.

I was shoved with such force that I slipped and hit my head hard against the floor. Pulling off his mask, I was stunned to see who my assailant was. I was face to face with none other than Michael. He was breathing heavy; his dark eyes glaring at me.

I was dizzy from not eating all day and now from hitting my head. I barely had my balance when Michael picked me up and slammed me up against the wall, as if I were a rag doll. My body bounced off the wall and I was once again lying on the floor. The room was becoming a blur after the second hit I took to my head. Leaning over my body, Michael looked at me with the darkest eyes I have ever seen. I have never been so terrified in all of my life.

“Running away from me stops here, Nicolette.” Michael just seethed with anger. “I have tried to convince you that I love you. We are meant to be together; don’t you know that by now? All that I have done has been for you. I have professed my love for you over and over again, and what do you do with it? You rip out my heart, and stomp on it. No one makes me look like a fool. Running to Simon, when you should have been with me. Tonight, my love, I’m going to make sure you never run from me again. Tonight my sweet Nicolette, I’ll make you mine.”

Hovering over me like a wild animal about to kill his prey, Michael continues to taunt me. This is unimaginable.
Think Nicolette! I have to fight him, but with what?
He is too strong. Michael’s chest feels like a brick wall on me.

“Please, Michael, not like this. I’m begging you. Please don’t hurt me. I can’t have my first time like this. We can talk it out, please. I won’t say anything to anyone, please don’t hurt me.” Pleading with him, as I whimper in pain from the slams I took to my head. His jaw is clenching as he continues to glare at me, and keeping me planted to the floor.

“Now you want to talk Nicolette? What about all the times, I wanted to talk to you? You never gave me a chance. I’m not going to hurt you baby, I’m going to show you how much I love you, and you are going to enjoy every bit of me, as I take you and make you mine.”

“NO!” I screamed at him. I clawed at Michael, scratching his face, hitting him on his hard chest. I tried to claw my way on the ground for anything I could use to hit him with, but he over powered me again. Michael held me down with his strong hands, grabbing my face; he slammed his lips down onto mine. I spit at him, and then I bit his lip.

“Yes. Nicolette, I love it! Let me hear you.” I continued to struggle, and tried to get out of his hold.

He tore at my blouse, shredding my bra as if it was nothing, I felt so bare, and exposed. I was trying to break free of him as he tugged at my jeans, pulling them down, and then my panties. I was exhausted, and could feel my strength just breaking down. This wasn’t happening to me. This is a nightmare, and I’m going to wake up, and it will be over. It wasn’t a dream. This was real and it
was
happening... Michael St. Clair…was about to rape me.

My attempts at fighting him were futile. I kept crying out “no” to him, and he wouldn’t stop. He covered my mouth with his to silence my cries.

Michael savagely kissed me. He layered my skin with his poison, all over my neck, and down to my breasts. I could smell the liquor on his breath, mixed with his sweat that was all over me.

With one strong thrust, he entered my fragile womb, ripping, tearing, and destroying my insides. My spirit had been shattered. Michael had changed the course of my life with his act of brutality. My whole world, and the life I had up until an hour ago,
“changed forever.”

Michael showed no mercy, he continued to thrust his hard length inside of me, as I cried and whimpered in excruciating pain. He just wouldn’t stop, until he finally let out a sound that pierced my ears. I never want to hear that sound again. Michael climaxed inside of me, and his body collapsed on top of me. I felt my sprit shattering like broken glass. He pulled out of me, and I winced in pain, and he lay next to me breathing with erratic breaths.

Michael, shifting his body back onto mine, began kissing my forehead, and saying how much he loved me. This wasn’t love, this was masochism. I cried, and my body began to shake. I was frozen to the floor. Michael, stood up to put his clothes on, and I pulled my knees to my chest, I wanted to die. He got on his knees, and whispered into my ear.

“This will teach you not to run from me again. You are mine, Nicolette, and I am yours. It’s best to remember that.”

I was lying on the floor, listening to Michael’s threatening words echo through my memory. I was shaking and cold. I want my daddy to save me from this monster. Michael, turning away from me to fix himself a drink as he walked over to the bar. I looked at my surroundings, and saw a fishing trophy on the book case. I was in so much pain. Blood was trickling down my thighs. My legs felt like jelly as I struggled to stand, he was so smug that he didn’t even see me get up off the floor. With his back turned to me, and enjoying his victory drink, I saw my chance, and took it. I found the courage to strike. With every ounce of strength I had in my body, I grabbed the trophy and lunged at Michael.

Hitting him over the head with it, the trophy smashed into two pieces, and knocking Michael to the ground. He wasn’t knocked out, but only stunned. He tried to grab me again, but I was too quick, and reached for the scotch bottle from the bar. I hit him again over his head, and this time knocking him unconscious. I began screaming for help as I held my head. I cursed at Michael, screaming with rage for what he did to me.

“You bastard… you filthy, disgusting pig. You will never touch me again. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” I started kicking him in his ribs, and punching his back. I didn’t hear the cabin door open, as I kept hitting Michael, familiar hands reached for me, and pulled me to safety. The room began to spin, as pain pierced through my head.

“Simon.” You found me. “I’m sor…”

“Nicolette! Stay with me baby, help is on the way. Struggling to keep my eyes open, they begin to close with darkness consuming me.