The second the door swung open, Axel shoved Chloe into the dark entryway. He reached behind him and slammed the door shut.
The heavy click of the deadbolt echoed in the silent apartment. It severed her last connection to the outside world.
Chloe stumbled in the dark. Her back slammed hard against the wooden shoe cabinet.
She ignored the pain and reached out, frantically slapping the wall to find the light switch. She needed to see.
Axel's large hand clamped over hers. He slammed her hand flat against the wall, pinning it there with crushing force.
The faint orange glow from the outside filtered through the window. It illuminated the absolute, unhinged obsession burning in his eyes.
"This is breaking and entering. Get out of my apartment right now,I'll call the police immediately." she warned, her voice tight but cold.
"Call the police." Axel ignored her legal threat completely. A low, dark chuckle vibrated in his chest. He was mocking her.
He lunged forward. His massive frame completely swallowed her in the shadows. He forced his knee aggressively between her legs, spreading them apart.
Panic exploded in her chest. Chloe brought her knee up fast, aiming right for his groin. Axel easily caught her leg with his own, pressing his weight forward to trap her completely against the cabinet.
His fingers tangled roughly into her hair. He gripped the back of her head, tilting her face up, and crashed his mouth down onto hers.
It was not a kiss. It was a punishment. He forced her teeth apart, invading her mouth and stealing every ounce of air she had.
Chloe thrashed wildly. She balled her free hand into a fist and hammered it against his rock-hard chest. It was like hitting a brick wall.
Her lungs burned. The lack of oxygen made black spots dance in her vision. In a surge of pure desperation, she bit down hard on his lower lip.
The sharp, metallic taste of blood flooded their mouths. Axel froze for a fraction of a second. Then, a sick thrill flashed in his eyes, and he kissed her even harder, swallowing her blood.
He did not stop until her knees buckled. She went entirely limp against him. Axel finally pulled back. He wiped the blood from his split lip with his thumb.
He stared down at her. She was gasping for air, her chest heaving, her eyes red and watering.
"You are never getting away from me again." he stated coldly. He turned around, opened the door, and walked out without a second glance.
The door clicked shut. The last bit of strength drained from Chloe's legs. She slid down the wall and hit the floor.
She curled her knees to her chest on the cold hardwood. Her entire body shook violently. The tears she had been fighting finally spilled over.
The fear quickly morphed into burning anger. She scrambled on her hands and knees into the living room, grabbed her phone off the sofa, and dialed 911.
The operator answered. Chloe stumbled over her words, her throat raw, reporting a home invasion and assault.
Fifteen minutes later, two NYPD officers knocked on her door. They walked in with their notepads out, looking bored.
They shined their flashlights around the entryway. There were no broken windows. The lock was perfectly intact.
The older officer looked at Chloe. Besides her swollen, slightly bruised lips, she had no visible injuries. His eyes glazed over with professional indifference.
"Ma'am, I understand you're upset. We've filed a report. However, without evidence of forced entry, and given the... profile of the individual involved, this becomes a civil matter. Our hands are tied unless you can provide more concrete evidence. I'd suggest speaking with your attorney about a restraining order," the officer said.
They handed her a slip of paper with a case number and walked out.
The crushing reality of the justice system hit her like a physical blow. The law was useless against his kind of money. Her hands shook as she scrolled through her contacts and called Rachel.
Rachel answered, her voice thick with sleep.
"He found me." Chloe sobbed into the receiver.
Rachel cursed loudly. "I'm on my way. Lock the door." Chloe sat in the dark, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.
