"It is now or never"

Panicking, l violently opened my dresser drawers and pulled all my contents out then shoved them into my large duffel bag. Through out the whole time my heart was pounding so hard and I thought it might burst. My thoughts were also jumbled with everything that could go wrong if l didn't hurry up..

I had no idea what I was throwing into my duffel bag but I didn't care either. As long as I had some type of clothes and a plan I would be fine. I never expected my life to turn out this way but nobody in their right mind would have. I was stuck in a relationship with a guy who had a heart made of ice and lived in a house that should be condemned according to state laws, but never was.

Everyday was a living nightmare for me and I was done with all of it. I couldn't do this anymore. I only had a small window of time to escape and l was going to take it, even if my life was on the line. I couldn't stay here any longer and I wasn't going to. Prison was better than this place.

Just as I was lost in my own thoughts, I heard the sound l dreaded most as Alex's rumbling truck pipes echoed through the thin walls and the blood in my body ran cold. He wasn't supposed to be home yet. He wasn't even supposed to be in town.

I froze looking at the half full duffel bag in my hands as l tried to think of what i was going to say. How was I going to explain myself. It isn't going to look good when he walks in and sees me with a duffel bag full of clothes in my hands and a startled look on my face. I will never lie to him, he always knew what I was thinking even before l knew what I was thinking. And that always made it impossible to get away from him.

Until now.

The front door flew open and slammed shut with a bang. I jumped instantly, listening to Alex's heavy boot steps coming closer and closer. The pounding of his boots matched the racing of my heart thumping against my chest. "Karen, where the fuck are you?", His voice was filled up with venom and l felt my eyes swim with tears. I quickly blinked them back not wanting to see me this way.

I didn't know what kind of mood he would be in as l never did and waited for him to come into the bedroom where l stood stiff as a board, still debating on what to say. He was going to be beyond angry and l knew he would lose his shit if knew what I was really up to. Then here, he was standing in the doorway.

His demeanor was filled with anger as he glared at me. Alex was the kind of guy that girls looked at and drooled over while he grinned at them. He was beyond sexy in a bad boy kind of way. His dirty blonde hair sat messed up on the top of perfect face with a sculpted jaw and mesmerizing green eyes.

Tattoos lined his hands, courtesy of my work which only made him more good looking. But as l stood and stared at him right mow, l knew who he was underneath, all those handsome features were useless. He was the most ugliest person on the planet.

I was shaking and still stood frozen, unsure of what to do or say. My throat was dry and I wasn't sure if I could speak.

"I was.... cleaning out my drawers", I lied before he could ask me, hoping that he could just drop the questions and tell me why he was home early. "You home early", I added softly lifting my eyebrow at him. His eyes clouded over and he stepped into the room. "That's none of your business", He stared down at the bag and anger fueled in his body.

"What is this Karen?",

"I... I was just cleaning up some old clothes for Reena, she got kicked out last night and doesn't have anything so.... so I was just going to give her some of my old clothes", My heart was pounding hard in my chest that l swore he could hear it. When he looked down, my eyes looked heavenward and prayed to whoever might be listening to get me out of this.

Alex sized me up before he stepped forward and grabbed my duffel bag. He then tossed it on the bed behind me. He stood so close that I could feel his breathing on my neck, sending a .wave of shivers through my entire body. "I paid for those fucking clothes, so you ain't going to give them to that crack -head. She can walk around naked for all l care", He grabbed my chin then forced me to look at him.

"I'm expecting someone to stop by in a little while who owes me some money. I need you to stick around until he gets here, got it?",

I nodded not looking into his eyes even though he was forcing my chin towards him. "Are you leaving again", I asked in a low voice. His grip on my chin tightened up and I flinched.

He stared into my eyes not saying a word for the longest time before he kissed my lips forcibly, making me want to gag. "I have some business to take care of", He finally released my chin and walked into the closet where he pulled a shoebox down from the top shelf and turned his back so that l couldn't see what he was doing.

"The guy will be here soon. Just take the money , kick him out and wait for me to return. Am I clear?", He shoved the box up onto it's shelf and turned to me with a questioning glare.

"I got it. A guy is coming over. Take the money. Kick him out", I said with a forced smile on my face.