Never Say Never, Part Four (Second Chance Contemporary Romance, Book 4) by Melissa Shaw Page B

 
    “Darling, I just meant we have bigger issues to deal with.”  
    “We?” Brian gave a raucous laugh. “There’s no ‘we’ dealing with it.”  
    “But, I’m your wife, we’re together,” she murmured, then her cheeks colored bright red. She raised her chin and looked down her nose at him. “Unless you want to turn to that Janet woman for support.”  
    He raised his eyebrows. She knew about that, did she? All the more reason to silence her, to make her go away like the problem she was.  
    “How could you do that to me?” Amanda stared at him hard, and the fear in her turned to fury. “How could you betray me when I gave you everything? I killed our unborn child for you!” She shrieked the last sentence. There was a clamor upstairs, but he ignored it.  
    “Don’t try to change the subject. You do as I say in this house.”  
    “Stop,” Amanda commanded, showing him her pale palm.  
    He rushed at her and she screamed, but he cut it off by grabbing her around the throat.
    Brian squeezed hard and she scraped at his forearms, leaving tracks.  
    “I could kill you in a heartbeat,” he growled, shaking her slightly. “I could destroy you the way you deserve. You’re so low, you’re such scum, and I knew it when I married you. Easy to use and form, and a brilliant way to get back at Emily.”  
    “Let – go –”
    He shook her again. “Useless waste of space. You couldn’t even stay on the pill when I told you.” Brian released one hand and used it to grab a handful of her blonde hair. It was soft and he tugged at it hard. “Can’t even dye your hair right. Can’t do anything right. Worthless bitch.”  
    “Can’t – breathe –” She pleaded with her wide eyes, filled with tears, but bugging out of her skull. She was so close to death. So close he could almost feel it for himself. The slowing blood, the lethargic beat of her heart. Pitiful.  
    “Beg for it.” He dug his nails into the back of her neck, hand dwarfing it. “Beg for your life.”  
    “Please,” she choked it out. “Please.”  
    He let go of her hair, then backhanded her across the face. She flew across the room and slammed into the wall. A bruise rose on her cheekbone, shining up at him. Evidence.  
    He’d have to finish her now.  
    Amanda moaned and struggled into a sitting position, then touched the back of her head and winced. She glanced up at him and the fear was back where it belonged.  
    Brian stopped in front of her, and she crawled back against the wall, but there was nowhere to go. “You’re going to die.”  
    “Please, please, Brian don’t do it.” She glanced left and right, searching for an escape, grasping at anything to preserve that meaningless existence.
    “It’s time. I’ve wasted too much of it on you.”  
    “Don’t, please,” she whispered, tears flowing now, travelling down the make-up streaked cheeks. He didn’t reply, but readied himself. “Brian! Please, don’t do this. The kids,” she said suddenly, and he froze, “the kids are upstairs. Don’t let them see you hurting me.”  
    He nodded and lowered his shoulders slowly. The kids. Emily’s kids. That would work just fine.  
    “You’re right.” Brian sighed, and Amanda blinked in shock and relief. “It’s them I should focus on.”  
    “No!”  
    He kicked her hard in the face and there was sharp ‘snap’ – her nose broke. She passed out right away. Perfect.  
    Brian strode past her and into the house.  
    “Jared! Becci! Daddy’s looking for you,” he yelled.  
    The scrambling upstairs grew louder.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    Emily stared out the window and breathed through her nose. No more Chase, no more Joseph, no more support except for the sadness and burning anger at her ex-husband.  
    So many men had let her down, now. She should never have given Chase Newman a chance.  
    Her phone tinkled to life and her heart leapt in spite of her thoughts. She still wanted to hear from him.