No Remorse Read Online Free PDF Page B

loose was their only option. Even then, Derek was worried he would try to hurt her. Derek told her he was trying to get Austin into treatment.
    “You want me to call a cab?”
    He turned to her, his eyes full of shame. “God, I’m sorry, Tal. I’m so fucked up, aren’t I? So. Fucked. Up. Oh, God, let me stay. Please… just tonight.”
    The hairs prickled on the back of her neck at the thought of Austin prowling around while she slept. “No. Come on, I’ll—”
    “I’ll sleep here, downstairs. On the couch. I’m sooo tired.”
    “No, Austin.”
    “You’re afraid of me, aren’t you? Scared I’ll sneak up and rape you? Slit your throat or something? You know, you are one fucking gutless bitch!”
    “I’m not afraid of you, Austin.” Keeping her voice steady was difficult.
    “Hah, you think that Aikido crap would save you? No chance! Wanna know how many men I’ve killed with a knife? Eight. You’d be easy fillet.”
    She lifted the phone handset on her grandmother's antique cherry dresser she kept in the hall.
    “What are you doing?” His expression changed again, his eyes narrowing, a dark frown appearing above his nose.
    “Calling your mom.”
    “The fuck you are. You’re fuckin’ calling the cops, aren’t you, you lying cunt.”
    That was when she knew. When he used that word. She spun around and ran, just as he lashed out. He tackled her, slapping the handset away. It flew across the floor as he rammed her against the wall. His fist pounded against her cheek and the blinding flash made her miss seeing his second punch, into her gut. She backed away with her hands covering her face as his fists landed like rocks. She tried to stay on her feet to avoid his kicks but lost her balance and fell to the floor, trying not to make any sound. That would only provoke him more. If he grabbed her around the neck with those hands….
    He kicked. Somehow the blow missed her head and connected with her shoulder. He laughed and said something Tally couldn’t make out, then grabbed her hair and began dragging her towards the kitchen.
    “I’m going to kill you! Then I’ll tell the world about the slick little operation you guys have going at the agency. The media’ll pay a fortune for that story…”
    The sickly smell of his body odor wafted over her. She felt a sharp pain in her chest and wondered whether it was a pulled muscle or broken rib, or if she was having a heart attack. Her face was throbbing. Her scalp stung and she glimpsed a clump of her hair on the floor. A thought flashed that these might be her last moments of life; that she’d be found cold and alone, stabbed and gutted.
    No! She wouldn’t let it happen. She mustn’t let Austin reach the kitchen where the long knives were primed in the block. He kept yanking her like he was pulling up an anchor chain. A few more feet. She had to move.
    Now.
    With both hands, she reached up and grabbed the hand holding her hair. As she had anticipated, Austin reacted by raising his fist to punch her again. But she was ready. She drew her knees up and released the full force of her legs in an upward kick into his crotch. She missed, but the unexpected attack stunned him long enough for her to follow up with two quick punches to his crotch that struck home. He uttered a string of expletives as he doubled up, coughing and collapsed to the floor, grunting from the crippling pain.
    Struggling to her feet, she kicked her bare heel into his face. Again and again. Blood spurted from his broken nose and mouth, but he was far from done. He got a punch to her ribs, and as she staggered with the pain, he scrambled backwards into the kitchen. Cursing her, spitting blood.
    She reached behind the dresser and pulled out the Glock she had taped there, just as he reappeared with a carving knife. If he saw the gun he ignored it in his rage.
    “You are so fucking dead, bitch.”
    He charged forward, the knife raised.
    She fired three times. Center of chest. No taking