"Bite me."

"Listen im not in the mood for your mouth right now."

"We'll get off my phone then Vincent Anthony Covelli! Damn. You sleep with a guy and now they think they own you."

"Zara listen im not going to-"

"I'm going through a tunnel Vince you're breaking up."

"You better not hang--"

"I'm sorry the tunnel blocks out bull crap." I said and hung up the phone.

I was on my way home after an extremely busy and annoying day at work. I just couldn't wait for this day to be over. If it wasn't the clients it was Vincent getting on my nerves. I picked up dinner and a bottle of wine on the way home. When I got home I took a long hot shower to ease the tension out of my muscles. I put my wet hair up in a bun threw on a pair of old sweats and a t-shirt.

Half way through my dinner I thought about calling Vincent but I was just to stubborn so I sent him a text instead. I muted my tv when I heard a noise. I don't know if I was just being paranoid or what but better safe than sorry. I grabbed my car keys and bat and tiptoed down the stairs and started making my way to the front door when a shadow came at me. I gripped my bat and swung and hit the person in his side.The guy went down with a grunt, when I went to swing again someone grabbed me from behind.

"Jake watch it she has a bat." The guy got up from the floor and started staggering toward me I tried to swing my bat again, but it was snatched away from me and tossed aside.

"Get off me you dirty bastard!"

"Oh you have a wicked tounge, maybe I should cut it out of your pretty little face." The one holding me said brandishing a knife.

"Maybe we could have some fun with her first Jake." The other guy said coming toward us.

"I don't think so." I kicked out in front of me trying to do some damage.

"Charlie I don't think she's worth the trouble."

"What do you want from me?"

I brought my head back as hard as I could and hit the one holding me in the nose.

"Ahhhh you little whore, I think she broke my nose."He threw me to the floor and kicked me in the ribs a few times.

"It takes a real man to hit a woman you punk bastard."

When I realised he drop the knife we both went for it at the same time. If I was going to die I was going out fighting. I got to the knife first but was pulled back by my hair by the guy named Charlie. I started screaming as loud as I could hoping someone would hear me. When he put his hand over my mouth I bit down as hard as I could, before I was stabbed once in the stomach and then in the side and tossed to the floor.

"He's not gonna to like that we stabbed her."

"I don't care. She's a hell cat Jake, she's not worth it. Let's get the hell out of here."

I laid there for what seemed like hours but was probably like an half hour before I had the strength to pull myself up to try to get some help. I finally get laid and now I'm anout to die. I made it to my neighbors lawn and passed out.

I woke up to the sound of beeping and my fathers voice.

"Daddy?" Was all I was able to get out. My mouth was so dry. It felt like it was filled with sand and cotton.

"I'm right here baby girl."

"Where am I?" The light was so bright it hurt to open my eyes.

"You're in the hospital sweetheart."

"Can I have some water?"

I was drinking my water when my mother and sister came into the room.

"Hey momma."

"Hey sweetheart, how are you feeling? Are you in any pain right now? Do you want me to get the doctor?"

"Yea can you im hurting."

"How long have I been here?"

"A day and half."

"Where's Vincent?"

"I'm here dolcezza."

When my mother came back into the room with two uniformed police officers with her.

"Zara this is officer Wilson and officer Sweet they wanted to take your statement and see what you could remember.

"Do you know the men who attacked you?"

"No I've never seen them before, but they did call each other Jake and Charlie."

"Do you know why they would want to hurt you?"

"No."

"Can you think of anyone that would want to hurt you, maybe someone who has a grudge?"

"No,.... wait Michael. Michael O'Connor."

"Who is he to you?"

"We were friends."

"Are you sure it was nothing more between the two of you?"

"What the hell are you insinuating? She gave you her answers and instead of trying to give her the third degree you should be out there doing your damn job, because if I get to him first im not going to want any answers."

"Vincent take it easy son." My father put his hand on Vincent's shoulder in a calming motion.

"Do you know for sure it was him?"

"No I don't know for sure, but he's been harassing me for a while now. Constant phone calls and threats. He even attacked me once. I know he's behind this I can feel it."

"With all due respect Ms. Collins we can't go off your feelings."

"Well what are you here for then?"

"Well sir--,"

"You're supposed to protect and serve, but I guess that only means if I'm a criminal right?"

"Ms. Collins--"

"Goodbye officers."

"Gentlemen I'm going to have to ask you to leave, you're upsetting my patient.

"Ms. Collins when you are realeased you are going to need to come down to the station to look over some photos to see if we can identify your attackers."

"I'm going to give you something to help you with the pain, it's also going to help you sleep.

"Sweetheart we'll be back to see you tomorrow. You get some rest."

"Okay, night momma. Bye daddy."

"Sir visiting hours are over, you can-"

"I'm staying."

"Sir-"

"Doc, he's not going to leave he's too stubborn."

"Okay we'll try not to bother her too much she needs her rest."

"Vincent look after my little girl."

"Don't worry, I will."

I woke up in the middle of the night screaming. It felt like I was being attacked all over again.

"I'm right here sweets."

"I can't take this anymore Vincent. I'm not even safe in my own home. He said he can get to me anytime and he was right and the cops won't do anything about it."

He held me and rubbed small circles on my back while I cried into his chest.

"Don't worry baby, I promise you I'll get him.