Sallinger, Elene - Reflection (The Chrysalis Series)

She’d gladly kill him as he lay there.

It wouldn’t be hard. Snob that he was, all of his expensive kitchen knives were razor-sharp. She could easily grab that large one he was always using to chop vegetables.

It would slide easily between his ribs. She’d read that it only took two-and-a-half inches of blade to kill someone. That would more than do the job.

Or maybe just pick up that heavy iron lamp on the table next to the bed and beat him over the head with it. She bet it would be very satisfying to hear the crunch of that despicable brain crushing under its weight.

She wished she had a gun. She’d enjoy watching him cower as she pointed it at him. She wanted him to understand the nature of being helpless. Powerless. No longer in control of your fate. She wanted to see fear in his eyes and taste it on her tongue before she ended his evil once and for all.

Oh yes, Skyler understood the nature of murder now. It was about control; taking it back in a way that was permanent and undeniable. Killing Dale would ensure he never harmed her or anyone else again.

It would be messy, though. Lots of blood. Too much evidence. Her fingerprints were everywhere. She’d be caught. Her baby would be taken from her.

He wasn’t worth that. She sighed as the cloying feeling of desolation settled in her chest. Knowing she wouldn’t act didn’t stop her from fantasising. It was the only thing getting her through the nights with him.

He continued to use her. Continued to hold her scholarship over her head. She had told him she’d gotten the abortion but that had only bought her two weeks to “heal”. He hadn’t wanted to touch her when she’d said she was bleeding.

Fortunately, she wasn’t showing yet. But she only had about a month before she would be and she didn’t trust what he would do to her when he found out.

The professor had promised they’d expose him before then, but so far Skyler didn’t see a plan coming together and she didn’t know if she could continue to play this role with him.

She cringed at his touch. Something he seemed to enjoy. The bastard. He’d grown rougher too and she feared for the baby if he truly hurt her. Last night had been particularly bad. She was still sore and it was painful to sit.

Oh, to turn the tables on him and give him a taste of his own medicine. She smiled at the thought.

‘What are you doing over there?’ Dale’s voice, rough with sleep, startled her out of her fantasies.

‘Just thinking,’ she said, gripping the arms of the easy chair she sat in as her belly cramped and twisted.

‘About what?’ He sat up and turned on the light, blinding her momentarily.

Squinting into the light, she told him, ‘You.’ She figured honesty was easier than lying.

He grunted and threw back the covers before walking naked into the bathroom. She stayed where she was and contemplated the feasibility of making a run for it as the sounds of the toilet flushing and water running filtered out of the bathroom.

She wanted to run. To throw on her clothes and get the hell out of there, but she knew better.

He stepped back into the room, his dick already semi-hard. A crawling sensation erupted over her skin but she suppressed a shudder.

She bit her lip to fight the tears welling behind her eyes. She couldn’t keep doing this.

‘Come here, Skyler.’ Dale patted the bed before gripping his dick and squeezing. ‘Put that smart little mouth of yours to use.’

Nausea rolled over her, but she fought it. Kneeling between his legs, she took his dick in her mouth, being careful to remember everything he’d taught her.

Only the fantasy of his downfall sustained her though this now familiar violation.

‘Professor, I’m going to lose it if we don’t figure out something soon.’

Bridget heard the desperation in Skyler’s voice and her stomach clenched. She’d been wracking her brain for a solution, but she remained stumped.

The end of the semester was next week and her tenure review would come the following week. They needed a plan. Now.

‘What about tape? Do you think you could get him on tape?’ She was spit-balling here but she needed to keep Skyler engaged.

Skyler snorted.

‘I’m no longer allowed to visit his office. He won’t “risk a scene”.’ Bridget could hear the air quotes as Skyler’s tone changed. She sighed and continued in a strained voice. ‘And, frankly, he has me naked within minutes when I get to his house. He takes my purse. I don’t see how I could manage that.’

Bridget had to forcibly relax her grip on her phone. The rage that flooded her at the cruelty Whittier was committing sickened her.

‘Skyler.’ She plunged forward, not really thinking, just knowing she had to get her away from the man. ‘You’re going to come and stay with me. I’ll get your work and arrange with your other professors to proctor your finals, but you’re not spending one more moment where he can get to you.’

She paused, waiting for a response, but all she heard were sobs.

‘Skyler?’

More weeping.

‘Sugar, talk to me.’ Tears welled in her own eyes.

Skyler just continued to sob for several minutes, eventually subsiding into sniffles.

‘Thank you, Professor.’ She practically wailed the words.

‘Skyler, I promise you we’ll solve this.’ Bridget forced herself to relax and project confidence despite the doubt twisting her gut.

‘I know, Professor.’ She didn’t sound confident.

‘Listen, pack your clothes and whatever you need. OK?’ Bridget checked her watch. ‘What time do you think you’ll be ready?’

They quickly agreed on a time to meet and Bridget gave her the address.

Ending the call, she took several deep breaths and considered praying.

‘What was that about?’

Connor’s voice rang out in the stillness of his loft, startling her so that she dropped her phone.

She slid to her knees as much to avoid looking at him as to get the phone.

‘One of my students is being harassed.’ She decided that the truth, even if partial, was better than lying. ‘I’m having her stay with me for a while.’

She wasn’t telling him everything. He could feel it in his gut. See it in the way that she wouldn’t truly meet his eyes.

Stop it, he told himself. You’re being paranoid.

Connor pulled the T-shirt he was carrying over his head and took a deep breath to calm down. His frustration was getting harder and harder to contain with Bridget. It was obvious she wasn’t telling him everything.

Talking with her was a lot like trying to trap a drop of water. She rolled and moved every time he tried to pin her down. The messed-up thing was that he couldn’t pinpoint why he really felt this way. So far everything she’d ever said to him was borne out. She lived up to her word and kept her promises.

It was true that their sex life hadn’t progressed the way he’d hoped, but the sex was still really good. He just wanted more, and felt like an ass for not being satisfied. She was beautiful. Sexy. She wanted to please him and he felt certain she was trying. It was just that he felt a wall.

Some inexplicable barrier that he could feel, but couldn’t see. It was always there. Even now.

‘Who’s harassing her?’ He scrutinised her face. There were fine lines of stress around her eyes and she was practically wringing her hands.

‘My boss.’ She tossed her phone on the coffee table and sat on the sofa. Daisy came over and sat next to her. Lotus barely twitched on her bed.

Bridget absently rubbed her dog’s head as she continued. ‘Apparently, he’s been at it for a while and now she’s pregnant.’ He saw tears in her eyes. ‘She came to me for help and I’m still trying to figure out how to help her in a fashion that will allow her to keep her scholarship.’