Page 94 of Ferocious Nightmare

I ignored him to focus on Aster, her face filled with terror. She was panicking.

"Aster," I put as much command into my voice as I could, trying to remember everything I'd researched. "Look at me."

She still stared at my father, who'd given up on pleading to me for help, and was now screaming at his men to kill me.

In the background, I could hear Knight taking over. He was talking on the phone, then handed it to one of Nicholi’s men. I knew we were safe now.

I kneeled in front of Aster so all she could see was me. Once I had her attention, I took in a deep breath, then released it.

“Coulter. I think I’m having a heart attack.” Her eyes were wide, her face pale and clammy.

I shook my head. “Everything’s okay. You’re not having a heart attack.”

She shook her head, vehemently. “I am.”

“You’re not. You’re panicking. But don’t worry. You’re safe.” I took in a deep breath. “Copy me, Aster. Breathe.”

Eyes still wide, she mirrored me, taking in a deep breath. We breathed out together.

I repeated it. She followed my guide. Over and over.

"Aster, now I want you to count down with me."

She blinked in confusion. "What?"

"Start from ten," I nodded at her, taking in another deep breath and releasing it. "Ten, nine... Do it with me."

"Eight," she responded, breathing deeply at the same time that I did it, "seven, six..."

I counted down with her until we reached zero. By that time her chest had stopped moving in and out so quickly. Her once shaking body slowed to a tremble, then an intermittent shudder.

I reached forward, gently pulling her hand from where she’d fisted her top. Her shoulders drooped, her wide eyes began to normalize. “You’re okay.” I cupped her face. “I’m here for you. I care about you.”

She shook again. “You are?”

“Of course. You're so damn beautiful," I slid my hand down to place it over her heart, "inside and out."

Tears pooled in her eyes, then slid down her reddened cheeks. “I’m not. I’m broken.”

I tracked my thumb over a tear and shook my head. “You’re not.”

“I am.”

“You’re. Not.” I thumbed her lips, and kissed her softly. “And even if you were, it wouldn’t matter.”

“You still want to be with me? Even though I'm like this?"

"Aster," I growled, "You’re the most brave, amazing person I've ever met." I swiped a thumb across her cheek. "Having panic attacks just makes you human. There's nothing wrong with it. You’re so incredible, there is nothing in this world that will stop me from loving you."

"Really?" Tears were streaming down her face now.

"Of course!" I bent over her, kissing away her tears, and the feel of my father's hand on my leg made me come quickly back to reality.

He was still slowly bleeding out, and he was howling in ragged breaths. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Kill him!"

I got to my feet, pulling Aster up with me. Everyone was staring at us and my father. I looked at Knight and he gave me a sharp nod.

While Knight was gone, he'd been working on something we could use to manipulate Nicholi into working for us. We controlled Nicholi now, and his men would obey us.

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