from Pain to Pleasure (Gainesville Book 1) (26 page)

* * *

Around noon, Alex nervously opened the hotel room door to let in Nathan and his mother. He was dressed to go to practice, but Danielle was asleep again. She had not been able to keep much more than a few sips of water down. She was so weak; he had to carry her to the bathroom.

“Mom, she’s worse,” Alex said as he walked back into the room.

Mary thought it was sweet he cared so much. “What did her doctor say?”

“She said to let her sleep it off, but worry if she stops going to the bathroom.” He touched Danielle’s cheek and checked her skin. It still looked OK. “She still has tears. So that’s good.”

Mary hugged her youngest child. “I’ll keep a close eye on her. I promise.” She patted his back. “Your team is counting on you. If it gets serious, we’ll let you know.” Then she pulled away to sit in a chair.

Nathan snickered. “You’re overbearing, you know. How can she stand you?” He smiled when Alex lightly punched his arm, and then joked, “No fistfights over this one. Right?” Alex had issues with boyfriends in the past when he screwed their girl. “Or is that what happened to your chin?” He laughed quietly.

“Kinda. He had it coming.”

Nathan saw a familiar look in Alex’s eyes. “Damn. It got that bad? I got your back, man. No worries.”

Alex sighed. “Thanks. I hope I don’t need you.” He pulled his brother aside. “If anyone asks, I’m not staying in here with her, and you guys are
Marie’s
family.” He lowered his voice even more. “I got a weird feeling. Something’s up.”

“I hope you’re being paranoid.” Nathan glanced at Danielle. “Has he called?”

Alex looked at her too. “No, and her phone’s been charged for two hours. No texts, no calls.”

“Maybe he’s working,” Nathan suggested.

Alex went to Danielle and kissed her lips softly. “Maybe.” He touched the cross around her neck. “You may need this soon enough.”

* * *

On Danielle’s laptop, Brian had picked up the signal to her phone. “Tallahassee? What the hell is she doing there?” One of the emails had said there was a football game that day. “She’s at the game watching that scumbag!” He flew out of the room and dashed to his rental car. He planned to teach them both a lesson.

* * *

Still in the hotel bed, Danielle stirred a few hours later. Her eyes opened a bit. It sounded like an announcer was in the room. She turned over slowly to find Alex’s mom in a chair next to the bed. “Hey. I’m up,” Danielle said just over a whisper.

Mary smiled. “You have color now. That’s good.” She retrieved a bottle of sports drink from the refrigerator. “Drink some.” She held a straw to Danielle’s lips. “Take a few sips. Please.”

After she had drunk more than she thought she could, Danielle tossed the covers off. “I have to pee.”

Mary put out her hand. “Hold onto me. I don’t want you to fall.” While she waited outside the bathroom door, she watched the television. Alex had played in the first quarter but hadn’t been seen in the second. There were only a few minutes left to it.

Danielle had more strength than earlier and made it back to the bed without assistance. “Why don’t you go watch the rest of the game? I’m OK now.”

“I promised Alex I wouldn’t leave you.” Mary could see she was better but knew that could change.

After she had laid down again, Danielle sighed. She hated being waited on. “Is Alex playing?”

“He was a while ago, but not anymore. I’ll keep looking for him.”

Danielle smiled and watched the camera span the players on the sidelines. Alex came into view, and her smile widened. “He’s not distracted by me being sick, is he?”

“I don’t think so.” Mary glanced at her son also. “He didn’t get knocked down.”

* * *

At the stadium, Alex had put everything out of his mind. He knew if he didn’t, he would fail on the field. Danielle wouldn’t want that. Practice had gone well and with no messages about Danielle. Then at halftime, he checked his phone and had one text from his mom that Danielle held down fluids. That helped his nerves at least. He wished she were there. He liked her close.

It was their last regular season game. If they won, they would qualify to go to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta the week after. It was something the team hadn’t done in a few years. Alex, Dave and the rest of them were determined to make it happen. He watched the halftime show and hoped Danielle watched it as well.

* * *

Danielle’s phone rang. She groaned when she reached for it. Without a glance at the screen, she answered weakly, “He—llo.”

“Wow, Dani. Are you sick again?” Brian was surprised by the sound of her voice.

Danielle’s eyes widened. “Yes. I’ve been sick all day.”

He could hear she wasn’t at the game. He had searched all over the stadium for her. “Where are you? It’s so quiet.” He didn’t want her to know he was close. If she suspected, he would lose the upper hand.

“Um, in bed.” She had expected him to be furious, but he sounded strangely calm.

Brian was calm because he tried to pinpoint her exact location. “Good place to be when you’re sick.” He didn’t actually pay attention to the conversation.

“Where are you?” Danielle heard a lot of noise as if he was in a shopping mall.

Brian glanced around. “In a restaurant.” A wicked grin formed as the name of her hotel came up on his laptop’s screen.
I’ll see you soon, slut
. “Hey. I gotta go. We’ll talk later, OK?”

Confused, Danielle brokenly replied, “Uh… OK… I guess.”

Mary sat on the bed. “Who was that?” There was fear in Danielle’s eyes again.

“Just a… friend.” Danielle debated texting Logan about the weird call, but then thought better of it. “Are all the kids at the game, too?”

Mary met her eyes. “No. They’re—” Her phone rang, and she pulled it from her pocket. “Hi, Bernice. Is something wrong?”

“The boys are fighting again,” Bernice, the nanny they hired for the trip, replied. “This time they head-butted each other.”

Michael’s oldest children got along like cats and dogs. “I’ll come talk to them.” Mary put her phone away. “I’ll be back in like 20 minutes or so. The kids are with a nanny. I have to go reprimand two of my grandsons. Will you be OK for a while?”

“Sure.” Danielle gave her a half-smile. “I can’t get into too much trouble in bed.” She chuckled, quietly. “Not alone at least.”

Mary frowned. “As funny as my son, huh? I’ll be back as quickly as I can. Lock the deadbolt.”

“It doesn’t work.” Danielle watched her leave, and then turned back to the television. She was shockingly still tired. She closed her eyes and listened to the game.

A loud knock startled Danielle awake. She slowly made her way to the door, holding onto the walls just in case. She was too short to see through the peephole. Instead, she closed the security lock and opened the door about an inch. Her breath caught when Brian appeared.

“Open up! Now, Dani!” he shouted. He had found her when he asked for Alex’s room. That pissed him off even more. When she didn’t comply, he growled, “Now, or you’ll be sorry.”

She backed away from the door. “Go away!”

“I’m gonna kill you!” He kicked the door as hard as he could, and the latch gave. He slammed it shut and turned the knob for the deadbolt. Alex’s things all around the room made his anger grow. Obviously, Alex stayed with her. Then he set his eyes on a terrified Danielle.

“You cheated on me!” Brian roared. “I found pictures of you kissing him!”

She continued on a path away from him. “Please, Brian… just go. Please!” She could see the fire in his eyes. That meant it would be even worse than she imagined. Tears had already started. All her defensive training rushed through her mind, but she was beyond terrified and couldn’t act.

Quickly, Brian lunged and grabbed her by the hair. He pulled her to the bed. He intended to punish her severely. Her faint whimpers fueled the adrenaline that flowed through his veins. He was sure the pajamas she wore would be easy to rip off.

Danielle was relieved when he let her go. Then his fist connected with her cheek. She fell on the bed so hard, she rolled across it into the wall with a grunt. Her tears came faster with the pain.

“You fucking whore!” Brian felt his control slip. His plan was about to come apart because he was too angry. He yanked her back to him and shook her, fiercely. “I told you—you’d never get away with cheating on me.” He punched her in the eye which made her fall on the bed once more.

She shook as Brian climbed on the bed. “Please, don’t! Please, Brian. Please!” She cried loudly as she cowered, more terrified than ever. She dreaded what she knew was coming next.

Full of rage, Brian grabbed her hair and yanked her toward him. She opened her mouth to scream, and he quickly slapped her. She looked up, fearful but silent. Just as he wanted her. The look excited him. His dick was ready for the retaliation. She would regret cheating on him for a long time.

Danielle realized she had to do something, anything. However, the only thing she could think of was how much she hated him. When he grabbed her pajama top, she spit in his face.

“You stupid little—”

Furious beyond reason, Brian punched her again even harder. Her head turned, and blood ran from her nose. Then he let her fall to the bed and pulled at her clothes to get them off her as fast as possible.

Danielle fought as hard as she could to stay dressed. No way would she make it easy for him. She heard ripping sounds but hindered his random yanks on her clothes. He continued to punch and slap her to get her to stop, but it only made her persist. She kicked and thrashed, rightfully afraid he could hurt the baby. When he tore the crotch of her bottoms open, she screamed.

* * *

Just after, Alex and Nathan got off the elevator on their floor. Their mother had just come out of Michael’s room. “Mom, where’s Danielle?” Alex tried to quell the panic that rose in him.

“She was sleeping when I last checked on her,” Mary assured him. “Your spitfire nephews won’t stop fighting, so I was playing referee for a while. How come you’re not at the party?”

The after-game party had started in a conference room at the hotel. “I needed to see if she’s OK first. If she feels better, maybe I can take her there for a while.”

* * *

Down the hall, Brian stopped for a few seconds. He breathed hard and could not believe she was so difficult. He was shocked she put up any defense at all. He decided enough was enough; he would just pin her down and get to it. He opened his belt.

Danielle was in pain. He had bruised her all over already, and she had no more strength to fight. Then he smiled when he revealed his huge, stiff cock. Her eyes opened wide. She didn’t want that again. As soon as he was close enough, she kicked. She tried to connect with his groin.

Brian grunted loudly as she hit his hip and fell backward onto the floor. He glared at her. “You goddamned bitch!” He went right back to her, grabbed her hair and pulled her close. Then he smiled as she sobbed, sure he had won.

She looked up at him and pleaded, “Please don’t hurt my baby!” She cradled her womb, petrified that she would lose the child.

“You little whore! You got his fucking baby in there?” He swung at her abdomen, but she turned fast, and he hit her back.

The wind knocked out of her, she struggled to breathe. “Al—lex…” she cried out weakly.

“Cry for him all you want,” Brian softly taunted, crouched over her. “He’s never gonna stop me.” He had every intention to follow through with her punishment. She fought him again when he reached inside the hole in her pants. Then she screamed when he tore her panties. “Too late for him to save you.”

* * *

A scream floated down the hallway. Nathan and Alex looked at each other. “That’s Danielle!” Alex cried out. They started to run to the other end of the hallway. Alex stopped in front of their room and listened. He heard Brian’s voice.

“Oh, God, he’s home. He’s gonna fucking kill her.”

Nathan’s eyes opened wide. “Brian’s here? What the hell? I thought we were gonna take care of him at Christmas.”

“We have to do it now.” Alex shoved the door.
I can’t lose them
. “Keep your fucking hands off of her!” He slammed into it again. “Babe, I’m coming!”

Brian had his hands around Danielle’s neck. “You think he’s gonna save you? Think again.” He squeezed tighter which made her gasp for air. He decided to torture her for a while, so let go when tears started again. “I’m gonna get what I came for, and then we’re going home to my place.” He pinned her hands over her head. What he didn’t realize was that the deadbolt had not engaged.

“Why is she screaming?” Mary asked. She waited for an answer and didn’t understand what was going on at first. Then she heard Brian’s voice. It was the same voice from Danielle’s phone; the one that had put fear in Danielle’s eyes. “Alex, you have to stop him.”

“I’m trying!” Alex hit the door harder. It didn’t budge. Then he realized he had the keycard. Adrenaline and his emotional state didn’t allow him to think straight. “Fuck!” He fished it out and swiped it fast; the LED blinked red. He tried it again and got more of the same.

Brian heard Danielle mutter Alex’s name while she started to pass out and fury took over again. “You stupid little fucking whore!” He straddled her waist and wrapped his hands around her neck again. “If I can’t have you, no one can!” All control was lost. He could think of nothing but ending her life.

Danielle’s eyes opened wide; she couldn’t breathe. She saw Brian over her again. Then her vision faded as consciousness slipped again.

Mary’s hands were over her mouth. She couldn’t believe it was real. Why would an ex-boyfriend have that much fury? She had to make sure they prosecuted him severely. She tried to think of someone she knew at the Tallahassee district attorney’s office.

It took Alex several attempts to unlock the door. He was the first one in the room and saw her blue face. “Get the hell off her!” Brian’s pants were undone, which made Alex angrier.

Brian glared at him. “Stay back, or I’ll kill her and your bastard baby!” He put a knee on her belly. “I’ll fucking crush it! I swear.”