Reaching Rachel by L.L. Collins

she knew she was in a situation she was not winning in, she couldn’t let him think he could rule her. “Screw you. How dare you touch me again. Get the fuck out of my house.”
    “Wrong answer,” Justin snarled, throwing her onto her bed. Please no, she thought. God, I can’t survive it . He towered over her, his breath coming in shallow spurts. “I can’t believe how dumb you are. Is it really more important, you being an independent, self-absorbed woman? Stupid, stupid woman.” Then the last thing she remembered was watching his fist fly towards her face, then, it was just black.
     

     
    Justin looked at Rachel, laying silently on the bed. She was passed out, knocked out, or asleep. Whichever it was, it was good for him. Once again, she had pushed him to the limits and he reacted. She was such an idiotic woman. If only she would’ve listened to him, they could’ve been making love right now. It didn’t help that he had had to leave his apartment abruptly, and his job would probably be next. What was he going to do now? He wasn’t ready yet, he didn’t have everything in place. Now he was going to have to accelerate his plan, and that meant breaking Rachel faster than she was really willing to bend. Tonight should’ve been a good start towards that.
    He reached out and touched her face, swollen now from his angry fists. Those would bruise. But, when she woke up he would fill her room with flowers and love notes, and she would take him back. One, because she would have no choice, but also because she would want to. She would want him. And she would listen to him and stay home with him for the next few days, until her bruises had faded and could be covered by makeup and he was sure that he was in the clear.
     

     
    Kayley snuggled into Ben’s chest as the news played on their TV. The kids were all asleep, and it was her favorite time of day, when it was just them. He ran his fingers through her long blonde hair, relaxing her into almost being asleep.
    “Our town made the national scene today when it was mentioned that we may be harboring a fugitive,” the news reporter said. Kayley blinked open her eyes, focusing on the screen as they flashed a picture. “This man’s name is Mark Stevenson. He’s wanted in Alabama for a whole array of charges, but the most serious ones are attempted murder of a police officer and of a young woman, who is reported to still be in a coma. He is considered armed and very dangerous. A tip called in to the national hotline said that he was seen in our area. If you see this man, or anyone that looks like him, please call 1-800-STOP-CRIME.”
    The picture popped up on the screen, a handsome man with dark hair and dark eyes. “That’s crazy,” Kayley whispered. “He’s a psycho.” Right before the picture blinked off the screen, a shiver of recognition flashed through her. “Ben?”
    “Yeah, baby,” he murmured, caressing her back.
    “Did that look like Justin?” Her stomach was quivering. It wasn’t exact, but damn did that picture remind her of him. She knew she had only seen him twice now, but it was enough to send goose bumps down her body.
    “Hmmm … I think your imagination is getting the best of you,” Ben teased, pulling her back to lay with him and kissing her softly. “I didn’t really see the resemblance.”
    Kayley relaxed against Ben. “You’re probably right.” As he kissed her deeper, he made her completely forget about the picture she had seen, and her worry over Rachel.
     

     
    Rachel rolled back and forth, pain coursing through her body. What was wrong with her? The morning light shone brightly through her windows, and she groaned. She knew she was in her bedroom but had no idea what had happened to her.
    She attempted to sit up and the room spun off its axis, causing her to whimper. Her stomach revolted at the movement and she knew she was going to be sick. Grabbing the trash can next to her bed, she lost the contents of her stomach. Her