Free The Season of Sin (Peace In The Storm Publishing Presents) by Stacy-Deanne Page B

pail of old paintbrushes.
    He pulled her pants and underwear down to her ankles with the look of pure malice in his eyes.
    “I said cool it.” He pierced her chin with the knife.
    She’d have to kill him. It would be the only way she would get out of here.
    He unfastened his belt.
    She slammed her knee into his crotch.
    “Ahhhh!” He rolled off of her.
    Dylan snatched the knife. “Stay away!”
    “You’re not getting out of here alive.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

     
    “I’ll bet…” The man’s tongue ran across his yellow teeth.  “You wouldn’t know what to do with that would you?”
    Dylan blinked to see through the tears.  “I just wanna leave.”
    “And I want you to stay.” He slid toward her.  “Who do you think’s gonna win?”
    She swung the knife at his face. He grabbed it and knocked her down face first.
    “No!” She reached for the door handle.
    He pulled her arm back.  “If this is the way you want it…” He rolled his hard center against her buttocks. “Hey it might even be better doing it this way huh?”
    Dylan closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle or whatever came first.
    The van door slid open. “Hey what are you doing?” A man with glasses asked.
    “Get the fuck outta here.” The attacker kicked at the man. “It’s none of your business!”
    “No don’t leave! He’s trying to rape me!”
    “She’s lying! Uh she’s my wife.  She’s high see? Delusional you know? I’m trying to calm her down. She’s having one of her spells.”
    “It’s not true!” Dylan broke free and crawled to the corner of the van.  “Please call the police!”
    She stared at the middle-aged stranger. He was a handsome man with black hair and dark brown eyes that glowed from underneath his glasses.
    “If she’s your wife how come you have a knife?”
    “I won’t say it again!” The rapist raised the knife. “Get the fuck outta…”
    The stranger snatched the attacker by his jacket. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you how to treat a lady?”  He put the rapist in a chokehold. “When a woman says no your ass better listen.”
    The stranger slung him down.
    The rapist acted as if he’d put up a fight at first. Instead he climbed over to the front of the van.
    The stranger grabbed the rapist’s leg. “Hey get back here!”
    The rapist knocked the stranger back with one kick. “Fuck both of you!” He hopped out the van through the driver’s side.
    The stranger tumbled over. “Hey!” He struggled to his knees. “Come back here!”
    The rapist ran behind the row houses.
    “Here’s my phone.” The stranger threw it to Dylan. “Call the police. I’m gonna see if I can find him.”
     “No!” Dylan reached for him. “Please don’t leave me alone!  Don’t leave me please!”
    “But he’s getting away. I gotta…”
     “I don’t care if he gets away.” She put her head between her knees. “Just don’t leave me alone. Please.  Please just stay with me.”
    He climbed in. “Are you all right?” He caressed her face. “Did he hurt you?”
    “I prayed for you.” She threw her arms around him. He covered her with one of the blankets.  “I prayed and you came. You came.”
    “Shh. You’re safe now.”
    She rested her head on his shoulder.

    “Dylan!” Jasmine jumped from the couch when Dylan walked in.
    “Dylan where you been, girl?” Zoë set her coffee cup on the living room table and ran to her best friend.  Brianna and Steven sat on the two-seater by the window.
    Dylan nestled the man beside her. She’d already gotten use to his warm embrace.
    “Dylan?” Jasmine looked her over. “What happened to you?”
    “We’ve all been worried sick.” Zoë hugged her.  “We’ve been calling your phone and you hadn’t gotten back with any of us.”
    Jasmine shook her. “You’ve been gone for hours.  Where have you been?”
    “Just let her catch her breath all right?”
    Jasmine looked at the stranger from head to toe. “And who are you?”
    “I’m a