“Olivia, please could you come into my office?” My boss shouts over when I put the phone down. Dread fills my stomach, but I fight it as I push my chair out behind me and begin walking towards him. “Take a seat,” he says after gesturing for me to do so.

My pulse hammers as I wait for the words I know are about to come.

“I’m sorry, Olivia. Your performance hasn’t improved since our last meeting. We’re going to have to let you go.”

“But—”

“I really am very sorry. I think we both know this place isn’t really for you,” he says, his eyes flicking out towards the others in the call centre.

He couldn’t be saying truer words, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need this shitty job. It’s the only thing keeping the roof over our heads right now. David bailed on his job months ago and hasn’t contributed towards anything since.

After politely thanking him for the opportunity, I collect the few things I have at my desk and do the walk of shame out of the office. A few people look up and give me sympathetic smiles, but I haven’t really gone out of my way here to make friends, so most of them totally ignore me.

I’m composed until I close the car door behind me. Slamming my palms down on my steering wheel, I scream into the emptiness as my frustration with life begins to get the better of me.

I’ve got nothing saved up. Every penny I had has gone towards living the past few months. I’ll be fucked if I’m going to go running to my parents for a hand out. As far as they’re concerned, my life is just peachy.

Once I’ve allowed myself a few minutes to wallow in self-pity, I start the engine and begin the drive home. I know I shouldn’t, but when I spot the corner shop in the distance, I pull over and treat myself to a bottle of wine and a bar of chocolate. I shouldn’t be spending money but I need something, anything, to make life feel just a little bit better.

Pulling up into my space, I grab my stuff and head into the depressing building. As usual, I don’t see another living person. If it wasn’t for all the noise, I’d swear we lived here alone.

Every time I climb these stairs, it gets harder and harder to muster up the energy. My eyes run over the same graffiti I see every day as the putrid scent fills my nose. Being unemployed and unable to afford even this shithole now makes me see it in an even worse light than usual.

The light flickers above me as I slide the key into the lock. Feeling a little uneasy, I risk a look over my shoulder, but the place is deserted. I’m just being paranoid, and I’m frustrated that it’s exactly what he wants.

I’m slipping my shoes off as I push the door closed when it happens. It swings open and, in seconds, his hands are on me. The sound of smashing glass fills my ears before I hear him whisper, “Surprise.”

Bile burns my throat as he holds me against him. One of his hands is around my throat and the other around my waist, stopping me from moving.

He kicks the door closed but I don’t hear the bang; panicked white noise is the only thing filling my ears as he pushes me towards the living room. His hardness pressing against my arse has me retching.

“Get the hell off me,” I scream as he forces me to a stop in front of the sofa.

“Shut the fuck up, bitch. I know you’ve been waiting for this.” His hips roll against me and I thrash about, desperately trying to get anything to connect with him, to hurt him, to distract him.

The hand around my throat squeezes to the point my vision starts to blur at the edges, and I begin to lose my fight. Every time he came here and I fought him, I knew I was only putting off the inevitable, but now it’s happening, I can feel my fight, my strength, draining from me.

“I’ve bided my time. I’ve waited until the perfect opportunity,” he slurs in my ear, “And I think today’s the day. It’s just a shame that little cunt isn’t here to watch.”

I try to scream but his dirty hand covers my mouth. I drag in as much air as I can through my nose while I have the chance.

“Shut the fuck up,” he barks, although I don’t think he really means it. He wants me to fight him.

All of a sudden, I’m moving, spinning and pushed up against the wall. His free hand tugs the top of my shirt harshly. Buttons ping off in all directions and his eyes darken as he takes in my lace bra. His tongue licks over his bottom lip.

I fight.

My arms fly towards his face and I manage to get a few hits and scratches in before his fist collides with my cheek. Burning pain radiates out from my eye socket and it feels immediately tight, like it’s started swelling.

I launch myself at him, but he easily overpowers me and it’s only seconds before he has me pinned to the floor. His hands encase my wrists and his thighs keep my legs from moving.

“You’re a fucking monster,” I shriek, but the only effect it has is to turn him on. His eyes blaze, pure evil mixed with unbidden lust. Anger burns through me that I’ve allowed myself to get in this situation. His breath comes out in ragged pants and his spit lands on me with each one.

We’re in a deadlock as we stare at each other. That is, until there’s a noise at the front door and David comes stumbling in with a bag full of bottles.

“Fuck. Shit. Fuck,” he mutters, standing in the doorway, looking down at both of us.

“David, please.” I beg. “Do something.”

As I watch him, I know my pleading is going to go unheard, because I can see his walls coming down. Every time Griff’s around, he pulls this mask on and it’s like it stops him seeing and reacting to what’s happening.

“David,” I scream.

Griff’s delight that his brother isn’t going to do anything is just what I need, because he releases my wrist and I get another go at his face. My nails drag down his cheek and I feel his skin collect.

“Bitch,” he roars before I feel his retaliation. My jaw snaps to the side and blood trickles down my chin.

“David,” I sob, my body exhausted. Weeks of fear and looking over my shoulder have caught up with me as I lay here, trapped under the reason for my torment.

“That pussy’s not going to help. He’s going to watch, aren’t you?” he taunts, risking a look over his shoulder. “You remember last time, bro? Wasn’t that fun? At least this one’s my type.”

I watch the blood drain out of David’s face before he turns and runs, dropping the bag. The bottles fall. Some roll across the floor in our direction, others smash, and the smell of alcohol fills the room.

“You see? Fucking pussy. He enjoyed it last time.”

He must see the confusion on my face, because he leans forwards and whispers in my ear. “He’s told you about Cheryl, I know he has.”

My blood turns cold. Cheryl was David’s ex. But not long after her seventeenth birthday she was…she was attacked.

“Help me,” I scream at the top of my voice. The sudden realisation of why this monster staring down on me went to prison has me panicking even more. No one told me in so many words, so I assumed it was a drug charge. “Help!” His hand muffles my screams once again as he pushes the fabric of my skirt up my thighs. “No, please no,” I plead—not that it will stop him.

His evil eyes burn into me as he runs them over my exposed skin. When they come back up to my eyes, I’ve no doubt he’d kill me, given the chance.

Restraining both my hands above my head, his other goes back to removing what’s left of my clothing.

He’s so focused on what he’s doing, he doesn’t feel one of my wrists slip through his fingers. I stretch as much as I can. The glass teases my fingertips and I feel it roll away. Bucking my hips as his fingers go for my waistband, I manage to move just enough to wrap my fingers around the neck of the bottle.

Just as he parts the fabric, I use every bit of energy I have to swing it towards his head.

Glass shatters. Blood sprays from his face, but more importantly, Griff falls to my side, a dead weight.

I don’t hang around. The second he’s off me, I scramble to my feet and run for the door.

Shoving my hand in my pocket, I find my car key and almost laugh with relief. My hands tremble as I try to get it in the lock, and I will myself to calm down. I need to get out of here before he finds me. Taking a deep breath, I manage to calm myself enough to unlock the car and start the engine.

I slam my foot down on the accelerator. It feels alien with no shoes on, but my only focus is on escape.

Everything around me is blurred with the tears continually filling my eyes, but it’s only minutes before I’m on the motorway and heading south. There’s only one place I can go. One place I know I’m going to be safe.

Clutching my bloodstained shirt closed, I bang on Nicole’s front door, hoping and praying that she’s here. The last thing I need is one of her neighbours coming out and finding me like this. My lips tremble as the memory of what I escaped plays on repeat in my mind.

“Please,” I beg quietly as I knock again. If she’s not here, I’m not sure what I’m going to do; it’s not like I can go marching into the shack to find her, looking like this.

The click of the lock has relief flooding me. My sobs bubble back up my throat, knowing that I’m about to be with someone who cares about me.

“Liv? What the fuck?” Her eyes are wide as saucers as they run over me. I didn’t risk a look in the mirror so I can only imagine the state I’m in. “Oh my god.” Her voice trembles with uncertainty as she stands to the side to allow me in.

Once I hear the door shut behind me, I feel like I can breathe once again. But I only get a very short reprieve, because it’s seconds before Nicole’s questions start.

“Liv, what the hell happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where’s all the blood from?”

My head spins and I’ve no idea which question to focus on first.

“I’m…I’m…” My voice comes out as a rough whisper, but I don’t get to say more because the sound of footsteps pounding down the stairs has me looking up.

Time slows down, and it’s like I’m watching the inevitable happen in slow motion. Liam’s legs appear, then his waist, shoulders… My breath catches because before his eyes find mine, I can sense the anger radiating from him. It oozes from his every pore.

“What the fuck did he do?” he roars, making me cower from him. “Fuck, Liv…I don’t…fuck.”

His shouting pulls Dec and BJ from Nic’s living room, and they also stand staring at me with their mouths dropped open. Pure hatred for the person who did this to me vibrates from them.

“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Liam says before moving towards me. I’m not scared; I know he won’t hurt me, but something from the last few hours sticks with me because I back away from him. Nic comes to stand in front of me, to protect me. I fight my need to wrap my arms around her shoulders in relief.

When I look up, Liam’s face is twisted in pain. I know all he wants to do is help, but he can’t right now.

“I think it’s best you guys go out for a bit.”

“Fuck that, Nic. Look at the fucking state of her.” He tries moving towards me again but is stopped when Nic puffs her chest out and places her palms against his chest. If the situation were different, I might laugh at her attempt to keep him away.

“Go. Out. Now,” she snaps, and after flicking a look to Dec, he helps get the guys out of the house.

“Let’s go,” Dec encourages, but when I look up, it seems BJ is just as reluctant to leave as Liam is. Just being here and seeing that look in their eyes makes me relax. I know I’m safe here. I know they’ll protect me if need be. It’s not until Dec grabs their shoulders and forces them through the front door that they finally leave.

The second they’re gone, my knees buckle and I start sliding down the wall. Nicole catches me and helps to gently lower me. Wrapping her arms around me tightly, she sits with me for what feels like forever as I sob loudly on her shoulder.

“You’ve got to be fucking joking,” I scream at Dec. The image of her broken and bloody is burned into my mind. The second I heard Nic’s words when she opened the door, I was running. I didn’t want to believe it. I thought I was hearing things, but the second my eyes landed on her, I wanted to kill. Kill the motherfucker who put his hands on her. I’ve no doubt it’s her wanker of a boyfriend, who she’s always trying to fucking protect. “We’re going back in to find where the fuck he is.”

“Fucking right,” BJ agrees, and when I look up at him, I see my own anger reflected back at me. He’s seeing red right now, just like I am. “Unlock this,” he says, thrusting a phone under Dec’s nose.

“What the fuck’s that?”

Dec’s eyebrows draw together for a second before understanding dawns. “No,” he snaps, forcefully pushing BJ’s arm away from him.

“Unlock it,” he shouts. I stand and watch them stare each other down until one caves. “You know as well as I do that her address is in there. We’re going for that motherfucker. Right. Fucking. Now.”

Dec looks between the two of us. He’s torn, I can see it in his eyes. If he opens that phone, he’s violating both Nic and Liv’s privacy, but I don’t think he can deny what BJ’s pushing for.

“You just want to let him get away with this. What if it was Nicole, Dec? What then? Would your answer be different if it was her who was looking like Liv right now?”

The mention of his girlfriend’s safety has Dec jumping into action. He keys in the code to unlock Nicole’s phone and, in seconds, he announces he has it. The three of us march towards Dec’s van, which is parked just a little up the street, before jumping in and getting ready to go.

Looking back at the house, I start questioning our decision. As much as I want to cause pain to the person who did this to her, a huge part of me is aching at being away from her. I should be inside that house right now. I should be comforting her, kissing away her pain.

My fists clench, but the move doesn’t go unnoticed.

“We’ll get the motherfucker, and then you can get back to your girl,” BJ says, much to my surprise. I know he’s my best friend, but he’s never given me any clue that he understands my desire for one woman, for Liv. He’s a player of epic proportions who loves nothing more than sowing his wild oats.

The image of Liv tonight merges with the one from only a few weeks ago as she stared up at me from her seat on the beach after she ran. She’s what I want.

The drive might be long, but no more words are said between the three of us. We’re all too lost to what’s happened tonight to sustain any meaningless chitchat.

BJ’s anger is palpable, and it reminds me that I don’t know all that much about him. He’s always been the joker of the group, the fun loving one, but I can’t help thinking there’s stuff he’s kept hidden as I look at him practically vibrating with the need to go and hurt this guy.

I’m buzzing when Dec pulls the van to a stop outside a dingy looking building. The three of us exchange glances before climbing out. No words need to be said. We know what we’re here to do. We’ve lived in each other’s pockets for years; we’re on the same wavelength, and we’ve got each other’s backs.

As we climb the stairs, I focus on Liv’s face, on the fear that was radiating from her. Anger licks at my stomach and the need for revenge has my fists clenching in anticipation.

Being the biggest out of the three of us, BJ takes the lead, and when he gets to the front door, he wastes no time in bringing his boot up and giving it one almighty kick. The hinges splinter and the door swings wide open. He’s straight in and Dec and I follow.

I can sense that Dec’s still a little apprehensive about this. He’s trying to be the sensible one, but I can also feel his need for revenge almost as strong as BJ’s.

As we round the corner, we find a scene I wasn’t expecting. In my head, I had an image of Liv’s waste of space boyfriend looking smug about the fact he’d just beaten her to a pulp, but instead, we find two men. One’s currently trying to scramble away from the other who, moments ago, had him by the throat.

“Griff,” the guy who’s trying to get away shouts seconds before I hear the sound of bone crunching as BJ’s fist connects with his nose.

Confusion clouds me for a few seconds, but the moment I see scratch marks across his cheek and dried blood stemming from his nose, I know he’s the one who attacked Liv.

“Go for it. Finish what your girl started,” BJ encourages, standing aside.

I get a solid couple of punches in, and fuck if it doesn’t feel good after seeing what he did to her, before he lands a couple of his own.

Spitting some blood on the floor, I fly at him. I see red. I’ve no clue what’s going on around me, but my only thought is to make this fucker pay. He has no right touching any woman, let alone my woman.

I hear a roar, and it takes me a few moments to register that it came from my throat as I prepare to kick the fucker where it’s going to hurt now he’s hit the ground.

Something wraps around my waist. I’m moving, but my feet aren’t touching the floor.

“All right, Liam. You got him,” BJ says in my ear, pulling me from the red haze.

Dragging my eyes from the slumped body at my feet, I look around the room. The other guy is still cowering in the corner.

“Who the fuck are you?” I spit.

“D…D…David,” he stutters, petrified. “Is she…is she…okay?”

“FUCK YOU,” I roar. The situation we walked into suddenly slams into me. He may not have been the one to hit her, but he knew. He knew, and he didn’t stop it. “It was your job to protect her,” I seethe.

Dec walking into the room distracts me from the piece of shit on the floor. “Let’s go.”

Looking over, I see he’s got his hands full of black bags. “What’s that?”

“Her stuff. Now, let’s get out of here.”

BJ pushes me forward and, without so much as looking back, we make our way to the van, towards the woman we did this for.