Barnett shoved her. Felicity stumbled backward and fell onto the plush duvet of the guest bed. The mattress was soft, but the impact jarred her spine.
Barnett kicked the door shut. He didn't lock it. He didn't think he needed to.
He started unbuckling his belt again. The metallic jingle of the buckle sounded like a gun cocking.
"You think Knight is going to save you?" Barnett sneered. "He thinks you're a whore. And tonight, you're going to earn the title."
Felicity scrambled backward, pushing herself up against the headboard. Her hand knocked over a lamp on the nightstand.
"Get away from me!" she screamed.
Barnett lunged. He grabbed her ankle-the same bruised one. He dragged her down the bed.
Felicity kicked him. Her foot connected with his chest. It wasn't a strong kick, but it surprised him.
Barnett grunted. He let go of her leg and slapped her.
Hard.
Felicity tasted blood again. Her lip split open.
Barnett climbed onto the bed, straddling her legs. He reached for his tie, which was still wrapped around his hand.
"I'm going to teach you some manners."
Felicity's hand scrabbled blindly on the nightstand. Her fingers brushed against cool glass.
A heavy crystal vase. Filled with water and orchids.
She grabbed the neck of the vase. Water sloshed out, soaking the sheet.
As Barnett reached for her throat, Felicity swung.
She aimed for his head. But her hands were shaking too much. The vase smashed into his shoulder.
The sound was sickening. A heavy thud followed by the crash of crystal shattering against the headboard.
Barnett howled. He rolled off her, clutching his shoulder.
"You bitch! You crazy bitch!"
Felicity didn't wait. She rolled off the other side of the bed. Her feet got tangled in the duvet. She hit the floor hard.
She crawled toward the door.
Barnett was up. He was hurt, but he was angry. He grabbed the back of the jacket she was wearing.
"Where do you think you're going?"
He yanked her back. Felicity's fingernails clawed at the carpet. She reached for the door handle.
Suddenly, the handle turned.
The door flew open with such force that it banged against the wall.
Dewitt stood there. He filled the doorway. Two security guards stood behind him like stone pillars.
Dewitt looked at the scene. The shattered glass. The water soaking the bed. Barnett clutching his shoulder. Felicity on the floor, bleeding, her dress hanging by a thread.
Barnett pointed at Felicity. "She attacked me! She's insane! Look at my shoulder!"
Dewitt didn't look at Barnett. He looked at the blood on Felicity's chin.
He stepped into the room. His shoe crunched on a piece of crystal.
"Get out," Dewitt said.
Barnett blinked. "But-"
"I said get out. Before I have you thrown off the balcony."
Dewitt's voice was quiet. It wasn't a shout. It was a statement of fact.
Barnett looked at Dewitt's eyes. He saw something there that made him forget about the pain in his shoulder.
He grabbed his jacket from the floor. He glared at Felicity.
"You'll pay for this," he muttered.
Then he pushed past Dewitt and ran.
