Read Monster (Impossible #1) for Free Online

door stays open.”
    I glared at him.  “No,” I said staunchly.  “You might think you’re a big man with that gun, but you will not invade my privacy this way.”  Bradley just gave me a hard, unyielding stare.  I sighed in exasperation, gesturing to the one tiny window in the bathroom.  “What am I going to do?”  I demanded, somewhat disparagingly.  “Crawl out of that?”  I might be fairly skinny – a result of being a workaholic with no time to cook a proper meal – but there was no way I could wriggle through that small space.  The thought gave me a sinking feeling, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it.  And I was desperate for Bradley to leave me alone and let me get on with it.
    “Fine,” Bradley said.  “But you have three minutes.  Then I’m coming in.”
    I nodded curtly.  It seemed that was the best I was going to get.
    I heaved a sigh of relief as I shut the door sharply behind me, sliding the lock home.  That might have been a dangerous choice, considering Bradley’s short fuse, but I didn’t care.  I relished my moment of privacy, taking time to splash cold water on my face after I had finished my business.  I looked at myself in the mirror.  My usually meticulously styled hair was a mess, so I quickly pulled out the pins that held my bun in place.  An idea coming to me, I pocketed them; they might come in use later.
    My long dark hair fell around my face in waves, framing my high cheekbones and accentuating the paleness of my skin.  My eyes looked tired, and there were dark circles beneath them.  I could hardly believe that Sean had called me “gorgeous” when I was in such a state.
    I was interrupted from my reverie by a pounding on the door.  “Time’s up,” Bradley snapped.
    Clenching my fists, I forced myself to unlock the door, to face the bastard again.  I considered making a run for the front door as we walked through the apartment, but I knew that I wouldn’t get two steps before Bradley ended my life.  So I grudgingly re-entered the bedroom.  Once I reached the bed, Bradley grabbed my wrist hard, yanking my hand back towards the metal rail where he would cuff me again.
    I let out a small cry as he pressed on the ringed bruise around my wrist, causing pain to shoot up my arm.
    “Please,” I said, ashamed at how desperate I sounded.  “Don’t do that.  It hurts.”
    “I don’t- ”  Bradley began coldly.
    “Don’t bother, Bradley,” Sean cut him off.  “There’s no need to do that.  You think I can’t handle one clearly fragile woman?”
    Fragile?  I wanted to squawk indignantly.  But Sean was arguing on my behalf, so I decided it was best not to say anything.
    Bradley stood his ground for a moment, not letting go of my wrist.  He only tightened his grip, and I couldn’t hold in a sharp hiss as the pain increased.
    “You’re insulting me, buddy,” Sean said, his tone light, almost joking.  But there was a seriousness in his eyes that told his friend to back off.
    Bradley was tense, but he released me.  I rubbed my wrist tenderly, trying to alleviate some of the discomfort.  I was again struck by the odd sensation of gratitude towards Sean.  He had proven to be my savior several times.
    But no.  That was wrong.  He might have stopped Bradley from killing me, but he still kept me captive here, refusing to release me.  I again hardened the walls around my heart.
    “I’ll be right outside,” Bradley said to me threateningly.  “If you try anything stupid, I’ll cuff you again.”
    I swallowed, nodding.  I didn’t want that to happen.  So I settled for folding my arms across my chest in a small show of defiance, but otherwise I held my tongue.  I maintained my hard stance as Bradley swung the door shut.  I didn’t allow myself to break eye contact with him until the lock clicked into place and he was hidden from view.
    Coiled tight from my tense situation, I jumped slightly at the sound of Sean patting the bed