Sally had never felt so ashamed in her life.

She ran along the dark sidewalks, wiping hot tears off her cheeks. How could he humiliate her like that? He must have known what would happen.

Damn him!

He didn’t care about her! He just wanted bragging rights. And he had them now.

She was going to have to leave town, she realized. He’d gotten what he wanted. Now she would be the girl who got screwed in the back of the club.

Gross!

She had a moment of regret- imagining how he would feel when he realized she'd run out on him. She knew he wouldn't understand why she was so upset. He probably didn’t mean to upset her.

He didn’t understand that Sally was a private person. She'd learned to protect her personal life when her career had started to take off. And then later, when she’d been running for her life.

What had happened between them was secret and special.

Very, very special.

Well, it had been for her anyway.

She'd never felt anything like that in her life. Not even close. He'd shaken her to her core, opened her up with his words and hands and mouth and… then exposed her to the club.

It felt like the worst kind of betrayal.

He owed her an apology at the very least. And she owed him- nothing. She'd given him what he wanted already. He'd just have to be satisfied with that.

It was over.

Besides, she wasn't sure she could go through that again even if she still wanted to his girlfriend. Everyone in that clubhouse knew what they'd been doing. They'd cheered for him like she was some sort of conquest.

She felt sick.

Well, she didn't have to go back. She was a free woman. He'd given her one night of unforgettable passion but that was it. They'd both have to move on. She certainly wasn't laying down for him in the clubhouse again. Maybe she should move tomorrow.

Just pick up and find another town.

Another state.

The thought of leaving filled her with sadness. She'd made a life for herself here. It was a far cry from the glamorous life she'd had in Nashville, but in a lot of ways it was better. More real.

She'd miss it. She’d miss Mae and Kaylie and Charlie. Janet and Jack. Becky.

But she'd miss Donnie most of all.

She walked up to her tiny little house and pulled out her keys. She unlocked the door without thinking.

Without noticing that not all the locks were making that same satisfying thud they usually did.

She walked inside and flipped the light switch.

Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

"Hello sweetheart."

She spun, reaching out for the bat.

It was gone.

Carl was standing in the hallway, holding the bat in his hands.

Sally's whole body turned ice cold.

This was it. He’d found her. And now he was going to kill her.

Hell no.

It wasn’t going to go down like that. She wasn't going to let him.

WHAM.

He backhanded her across the face, sending her sprawling into the living room. She scrambled for the couch and the hidden pepper spray under the cushion.

He was laughing behind her.

The bastard was laughing.

When Carl laughed like that it wasn't just a bad sign.

It was the worst sign.

"Whatcha lookin' for sweetness?"

He walked toward her and she scooted back on her hands and knees as he circled around the room.

"I found all your little toys honey. I've got them now."

He held up her bat, taunting her with it.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm not going to start with this. It would be over too quickly that way. Let's start with your old friend, Mr. Belt. Then we can warm up to… other things."

He tossed the bat aside and pulled his belt off. She shielded her face as he brought the belt down on her head and shoulders.

THWAP.

She didn’t want to cry. Didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. But she couldn’t help it.

Dear God it hurt.

He lifted his arm again and again. Sally stopped trying to figure out a way to fight back and started to pray.

Please lord, save me from this peril. I swear that I will never take the lord's name in vain. I will never-

"Ahhhhhh!"

She couldn't help it. She screamed.

Carl was beating her in earnest, not holding anything back. He stopped for a moment and kicked her with his heavy boots. She peered up at him from between her crossed arms. He was snarling like a rabid mutt.

"Did you lay with him? Tell me, you whore!"

He kicked her again. She was trying to figure out how to get ahold of his foot when he kicked her again, this time in the gut. She rolled over, moaning and clutching her belly.

"Did you fuck him? Tell me!"

He lifted his arm again, raising the belt over his head. She forced herself to answer. Maybe he'd stop if she could convince him.

"I don't know what you are talking about!"

"The guy who keeps riding by! The monkey on the motorcycle!"

Oh God. How long had he been watching her? He must mean Donnie… Donnie must have been riding by unbeknownst to her. Checking up on her.

It was sweet of him. It was going to get her killed though. Her silence must have confirmed it for Carl because he threw back his head and stared at the ceiling.

"That's too bad, honey. I told you I would kill you if you ever touched another man. But first, I'm gonna kill him. Where's he at now? You tell me and I'll make it nice and quick when it's your turn. Otherwise, you and me are gonna have some fun."

Like hell they were!

A sound outside must have distracted Carl because he turned his head for an instant. That was all the time Sally needed. She rolled to her feet and landed a running kick to his gut, knocking him into the entryway. He was scrambling backwards and she rained drop kicks into him until he lay still, with her boot on his throat.

It wasn't exactly textbook martial arts but it had done the trick.

The door crashed open behind her. She didn't turn to see who it was. She didn't have to.

Donnie.