Free Surge : A Stepbrother Romance by Jenni Smiles

stall John as long as I can until the police arrive.
            “John, I think we need to talk about this. Can
you do me a favor, though? It is always so hard for me to get all the boards and
gear out of the van. Can you help with that?”
            “Of course you need help. You never could do
these things on your own.”
            Ah, that didn’t take long. Already starting
with me. I bite my tongue so as not to respond. If he only knew now who I was,
he would eat those words. Regardless, now I have some time. John grabs me and
begins hugging me. It is difficult, but I fake the enjoyment of his touch. John
moves in for a kiss.
            “John, let’s get the work out of the way
first.”
            John grunts his dissatisfaction, but eventually
relents. He smiles and backs away. His touch feels like someone has stuck a
needle in my back.
    As John gets into the van
to remove more of the supplies, it dawns on me. I am going to lock him in the
van. If I can close the doors quickly enough, I’ll have enough time to run away
and call the cops. The timing is critical. John begins to speak again.
            “So, I assume your business is not doing as
well as you thought.”
            “Well, we are doing okay. I am just at the
start so… things are survivable.”
            “Haha, you were always such a dreamer. Not to
worry, I can support you.”
            “Yeah, that would be nice.” I hate pretending
I need him.
            I watch as John begins to inch his way deeper
into the van. It has to be the perfect moment. If I miss, it will not end well.
I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I want to look, but the fear of him finding
out what I’m up to is too great.
            “John, can you pass me the sheet there on the
front seat?”
            “Yeah, sure.”
            As John reaches forward, I lunge for the
doors. The surprised look on his face as the doors close is priceless. He
almost loses his finger. I run back to the driver’s side door. That’s the only
one that can be opened from the inside, once the car is locked. Leaning on the
door with my back, I press my feet on the wall, jamming it shut. The sounds of
John screaming should help to alert the neighbors. He threatens me, pointing
his finger and shaking it. I can hold this door for a while, as long as the
police will eventually get here.
    John begins to try and
kick out the window. I did not think of that. Now I have to run.
    I hear the crash of glass
and know John is close behind. I wish I would have run sooner. Looking over my
shoulder, I see he is in hot pursuit. The gap between us quickly evaporates and
he grabs me by the wrist. He begins to drag me back to the house with one hand
over my mouth and the other around my wrist. Screaming into John’s hand does nothing
and no one comes out to save me. Trying to dig my heels into the ground is
pointless, as he just carries me. We are now at the garage door. Taking the
keys from my pocket, he opens the door to my house and drags me in, locking up
behind him. Never have I felt a fear as deeply as I feel it now.
            “You little whore, you haven’t changed one
bit. Now you are going to get it.”
            John takes off his belt and lifts it over his
head as I cower on the floor, awaiting my fate.
     

Chapter
12 Mick - Firetrucks
            “911 what’s your emergency?”
            “My house is on fire! My fucking house is on
fire!”
            “Calm down, sir. Please give me your address.”
            “Holy shit! Calm down? You’re telling me to
calm down?! My fucking house is on fire!”
            “Sir, please give me your address so we can
send firetrucks.”
            “I am at 546 Blue Terrace.”
            “Stay out of the house, we are sending help
now.”
            I watch in terror as my house is engulfed in
flames. The fire emerges from