Page 98 of Taming Scarlet

“I wouldn’t—“ I started, but he was rushing toward me.

“I’ll make you pay for it,” he promised.

I didn’t stop to think.

I didn’t even really… aim.

I just held the knife tightly, and started jabbing with everything in me.

I didn’t stop.

Not even when the front door flew open.

And Julian rushed inside.

“Motherfucker,” Julian roared, rushing forward, grabbing the back of Gene’s neck, and yanking his whole body away.

The movement made the knife slide back out of Gene’s flesh again, and I looked down to see the bright red blood covering my hand.

Shocked by it on me, on the blade, I dropped the knife, hearing it clatter even as the noise of Julian and Gene’s fight intensified.

“Scarlet!” another voice yelled, making me look up to see my father standing in the doorway, the light streaming around his body.

He was in front of me a second later, reaching for my face.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt? Is that… is that your blood?” he asked, eyes huge, skin going white.

“No,” I said, shaking my head, feeling oddly numb now that it was all but over.

“We’re going to get you out of here,” my father assured me, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “Julian, enough!” he barked, making me jump. “The police are here. You can’t kill him,” he insisted.

But Julian just kept slamming Gene’s head into the wall.

It wasn’t until I spoke that he froze.

“I knew you would save me,” I said.

Then I watched as he turned, all the rage washing out of him like a wave pulling back as he released Gene to rush toward me.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, though, just ran his hands all over me, looking for injuries.

“I’m okay,” I said, but my gaze was on my bloody hand.

His own went downward, and a small smile tugged at his lips.

“Looks like you saved yourself, pet,” he said, voice soft.

It was the name that had me falling forward into him, my legs seeming to lose all their strength in an instant.

I didn’t need to be strong anymore.

Julian could always be trusted with my softness, with my weakness.

The police were rushing in then, guns raised.

“It’s okay. You’re okay,” Julian said. “Marcus, give her your jacket,” he instructed as he lifted me up into his arms, careful to have my robe tucked under my body, so I was covered.

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