Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

pulled it painfully as he reached for me, trying to grasp at the back of my suit jacket. My scalp screamed as I pulled away with all my strength. His fist was probably full of my long blonde hair. “

I said get over here!” he screamed, his efforts making the veins in his neck and eyes bulge with his wrath.

I still had make-up covering the residual bruise on my cheek that had been left from the backhand that had landed there only three nights ago, and though it was cloudy today, I’d conspicuously hidden my black eye with large designer sunglasses. I’d come to the conclusion that the shop was a thing of the past and I had to find a new way to support myself. I’d spent the day in town filling out applications at the diner, the police station, and one of the real estate offices.

“Get out!” I screamed at the mad man chasing me. “I hate you!”

I’d never meant anything more. I hated him beyond anything, but I hated myself, too. I’d fallen for his flattery and succumbed to his lies for the past two years ever since he’d come to work at The Auto Shop. I’d just come back from attending Denver University and I was young and impressionable, vulnerable to the attention of a handsome man. Carter had been 26 and unmarried; unlike any of the other mechanics that worked for my uncle, and I’d swooned whenever he flirted with me. It didn’t take long until we started dating exclusively.

When Uncle Leonard got sick, he relied more on Carter than the others to take care of the shop, even though they’d worked for him longer. I felt disgusted at the thought of it; guilt filling up my soul because I knew that it was only because he was my boyfriend. It wasn’t because he didn’t trust the others; Dave, Scott and the rest of them had been there longer and were better mechanics. It was only because Carter had convinced both of us that he loved me and would take care of me once my uncle was gone. But he had flushed my uncle’s entire life’s work down the toilet in a matter of months as drinking became his priority. He ran through the business’s working capital for stupid shit and booze; proving he couldn’t care less about me.

There had been a method to Carter’s plan; I was just a way to get my uncle’s business, the ranch and the life insurance money. Except, I hadn’t married him on demand like he thought I would, and then he got mean. I felt like such a fool and completely and utterly alone. I had no friends to speak of, because since returning from college, I’d foolishly spent every waking minute with Carter.

“Get! Ouuuuuuuut!” I screamed again, this time at the top of my lungs. “I want you gone! I want you out of the house and out of my life! Leave, or I’ll call the sheriff!” I threatened even as I backed away in utter terror. Undeterred, he advanced.

Carter laughed; a wicked, devious sound. “You can’t sur-survive without me,” he accused. “Who will run the biz-biznus?”

I scowled at him. “What business? You’ve run it into the ground!” It was sickening that what my uncle had built over a lifetime was now useless

He lunged again; his arms swiping through the air in front of him, the wrench in his hand flying free and whizzing past my head, barely missing me. My breath stopped as I realized my life was in mortal danger. He was deranged and his anger, combined with the alcohol, could be a lethal combination.

He was pushing aside tools and a floor jack; picking up a fender that had been removed from one of the automobiles and flung it across the room. I searched frantically for something to defend myself with. The fender landed with a loud clang, partially on the cement floor and partially against one of the work benches, and it made me flinch.

There was a long broom on the hook on the wall closest to me, and though it might not do much beyond hold him at bay, it was better than nothing. I raced for it and yanked it down, and turning, I held it up in front of me as a barrier between us. “Stay back!”

Carter stopped and laughed. “You think you can stab me with a broom?” he sneered mockingly. “You really are a stupid little cunt!”

I was used to his vulgarity by now; the face I used to find handsome now repulsed me. “I wish this was a sword, you lousy bastard! I want you to die!” I was crying and frantic, certain I meant every word.

“Do you know what’s gonna happen to you when I get my hands on you? I’m going to kill you!” He said, calm as death and then pointed in my direction. “You’ll die, not me. I’m going to snap your scrawny neck!”

Suddenly, Carter surged toward me again, but I launched into action, crouching down and pushing forward with the broom with all my might, poking him in hard in the chest. I managed to knock the wind from him, and he lost his balance. Stumbling backward, he fell into the work bench which caused the lantern to fall to the floor. Carter struggled to regain his balance but couldn’t, then crashed with a thud and loud grunt, onto the floor.

As I watched the lantern clatter to the floor where the glass broke, it played out in slow motion. It was as if my mind were two steps ahead and I knew the shop would light up like flash paper. It was full of gas and grease, and now that dirty oil was all over the floor, there was no preventing the inedible.

Whoosh!

The sound of the oil igniting combined with the flash of light and an inferno of heat went up in front of me; engulfing Carter in its ferocity.

My mouth fell open