Snippet from Carlie.

From Chapter 1

August 13, 2012

She nearly fell but caught herself and kept running. He was right behind her, on her heels. For a big guy he could move pretty damn fast. He grabbed her arm and turned her to him. Carlie looked into the man’s face seeing coldness and evil. He meant to do her harm, to never be seen or heard from ever again, she just knew he did. She was not going down without a fight.

“Let me go.” Carlie screamed as she fought to get free. He gripped both of her arms so tight her fingertips began to throb and tingled. Carlie grew angry. This wasn’t going to end like this. She had a future to see, kids to have and a husband to love somewhere in this world. It wasn’t ending like this. 

In her she felt survival mode kick in and began to kick at his shins as she tried to pull her arms out of his vice like grip. But even her kicks seemed like they weren’t fazing him. She knew she was in deep trouble and cursed at herself for running down the dark alley. She wasn’t even thinking right. When he started to chase her she panicked and ran mindlessly through the dark.

“Where do you think you’re gonna go?” The guy growled with the most sinister smile she had ever seen. Just then the back door of the bar she passed every day, flung open. Carlie screamed and struggled harder hoping to get the person’s attention. A delayed motion light blinked on above their heads. But the light was a dim gold that barely shone shadows.

Devlin O’Connell looked up as he tossed the garbage bag into the Dumpster. He saw the two, the woman fighting like hell but the guy had her tight. Devlin cocked his head a little staring at the two. Something was telling him that this all wasn’t right. She didn’t even look like she belonged with him. She had on slacks, flats and a sweater with a kitten the front pocket. He looked like one of the greasy bikers that frequented the bar two blocks away. Like the same bastards that would lean against his truck and act as if they didn’t hear him when he told them to get the fuck off his truck. He usual had to fight with those fuckers.

The guy looked back at Devlin who was standing watching the two, trying to figure them out.

“Let me go.” She screamed. Her hand broke free while he was distracted; she clawed his face making him scream

“You fucking bitch.” He backhanded her hard enough to knock her against the wall. Ok that’s enough, Devlin thought.

“Hey.” Devlin shouted walking over.

“Look mind your business, pal. I’ll deal with my woman as I see fit.” He said. His scratches bleeding profusely trailing blood down his cheek.

“I’m not his woman. I don’t know who he is. He chased me back here.” Carlie cried. Devlin stared at her seeing the fear on her face. She wasn’t with him. His gut screamed it to him.

“Back off.” Devlin said. “Get walking.”

“I said mind your business.” The man growled. Devlin grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.

“Come on.” He said. The guy blocked their way.

“Leave her where she is.” He said. Devlin stared at him, and then looked at her. She was pressing a tissue to her lip tearfully.

“Alright.” He said. He let her go. The guy grinned and looked at her in a way that sent a shiver down Carlie’s spine. He was going to get her for that scratch.

Panic rose in Carlie’s throat. She was going to be sexually assaulted and murdered in a disgusting alley and she felt like it was all her fault for running this way, for mixing up the alleys in her panic. One of them exited on her street two blocks north. She’d walked down that alley a billion times in order to reach her street quickly. Why the hell did she suddenly forget which one it was? 

Suddenly Devlin laid a punch that knocked the guy on his butt.

“Oh shit.” The guy shook his head, stunned. Devlin grabbed her hand and started pass, getting her close to the bar door. The guy laid there for a moment, dazed but he was up on his feet quickly and crashing into Devlin. Devlin pushed her out of the way taking the full brunt of the hit. Carlie fell back against the wall, watching the two giant men trade punches, all the while her heart screaming for her to run. Finally her feet took over. She ran to the door he came out of and began pounding on it and, screaming for help.

Carlie looked back yelling and pounding on the door as the two men fought. The guy who helped her was punching the biker and slamming him into the walls. She had never seen a fight like this and it scared her to death.

She started to go back, to go help him somehow, when the door to the bar opened. Carlie went back quickly. He slammed the attacker into the Dumpster. A big guy stepped out who, himself, looked like a biker. He saw Carlie and her busted lip, staring at her in wonderment. But his ears caught the fight and he turned his head.

“Hey.” He yelled running out. Another guy, who was putting down empty bottles of alcohol, ran toward her. He pushed her toward the inside as he ran pass, as if telling her to go inside the building. She watched as they grabbed the attacker. The two guys slammed the attacker against a wall but he still fought to get at them. His hand came free and he swung at the guy who pushed her inside, but missed and hit the Dumpster. Carlie covered her ears when the attacker screamed out in pain.

Behind her she heard footfalls and turned her head. Three cops ran pass her and into the fight. A female officer stopped at her.

“Are you the woman who was being chased?” She asked. Carlie stared at her dazed. Confused if she was talking to her or not.

“Yes.” She said. She took Carlie to the side. “How did you-,”

“You ran pass a couple who got off the bus right in front of you and they called 911.” She said. Carlie exhaled clutching her chest, feeling like it was the first breath she’d taken in a long, long time. She leaned against the building as the cop gave her another Kleenex to wipe the blood off her lip.

“Call for the bus.” One of the cops yelled back at the female cop. She walked over talking into her radio and Carlie followed. 

The attacker was lying on the ground cuffed and beaten up. But the guy who helped her was also on the ground. He pulled himself up on one hand, slowly wincing in pain. Carlie stared at him holding the tissue to her mouth. He looked at her but her huge fear filled teary eyes hit him so hard. He’d never seen eyes like that.

“Sir please don’t move. You need-,” One of the officers started.

“I’m fine.” He snapped at the officer. Looking away from Carlie, he started toward the bars backdoor. Carlie went after him.

“Please.” She said. “You’re hurt and-,”

“Lady, you’re safe. Now would you get the hell out of here?” He snapped walking pass her. She ran in front of him, stopping him again. Her chin shivered and that hit him too. What the hell is this? He wondered angrily. Devlin closed his eyes and sighed.

“Please. I, I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight if I knew you weren’t seen by a doctor.” She said. He looked up at her. A small sliver of light from inside slipped over her. All he could see were her eyes, big and brown. It got to him like nothing ever had and he sighed but even that hurt like hell.

“Fine.” He said defeated. He leaned against the building and she stayed with him, holding the tissue to her lip. She put her hand on his stomach and he drew in a breath.

“Is it there?” She asked. He stared at her unable to believe that her touch was making him hard. In this situation! Right now, covered in alley water and smelling like garbage, he was turned on by her.

“Yeah.” He whispered. She stepped closer replacing his hand on his ribs with hers and suddenly he couldn’t breathe at all. Devlin knew she was being helpful but here where he towered her a bit, he was growing more and more turned on by her. He began to count back how long it had been, began to wonder if it was the adrenaline from the fight. It was something and it was affecting him badly. 

Her bloody lip caused the EMT to patch her up real quick with alcohol and some sort of greasy Vaseline stuff before wheeling Devlin in to the truck.

“Can, can I ride with him?” She asked. Devlin looked down at her and was about to say no but didn’t. She looked so scared and nervous. If this ambulance backfired the wrong way she may piss herself.

“Yeah, she can come.” He said and laid his head back. The EMT let her on back and closed the door.