Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

She knew something was wrong. She wouldn’t run with
me like this.
And they were already here.
Dropping my shit, I dug out a cigarette and lit it, staring at
her with the sheet wrapped around her body and just wanting
to dive into her hair and lips and the warmth of her bed just
minutes ago.
How did so much change in such a short time?
She heard the lighter, smelled the smoke, a troubled look
crossing her beautiful face. “You smoke?” she asked so
quietly.
I could hear the tires screech to a halt outside and the doors
slam.
I darted my eyes to hers. “Don’t let me go,” I told her,
breathing hard. “No matter what you hear or what they say,
don’t let me go.”
She shook her head. “What do you mean?” And then she
turned to where her phone sat again, flustered. “My phone’s
going berserk. What’s happening? Please?”
“Winter!” her father shouted from downstairs, suddenly in
the house.
And I dove in, brushing her lips with mine as he charged
up the stairs.
“Don’t let me go,” I whispered.
But then her door was thrown open, her father entered with
another man in tow, and he charged me.
“Oh, you son of a bitch! GGet away from her!”
He threw a punch, and it was the first time in years I
hadn’t been ready to fight back. I didn’t even want to. If I lost
her, I didn’t even care.
His fist landed across my jaw, and I fell into her
nightstand, the lamp on it crashing to the floor with me.
Winter started gasping. “What’s going on?”