Page 85 of Saved By Two

"Sorry," I say in a whisper. "I panicked for a moment. I thought that was blood. He was here, watching us. I'm so sorry," I say, taking a step back. My thoughts are becoming sporadic, all rambling into one heated mess.

"I should go. This is…" I wave my hand towards the door and begin to pace, muttering under my breath and trying to get my thoughts in order. "He found me. This is bad, shit."

Noah steps in front of me, causing me to stop pacing. "Jessica," he says, my name slowly. "Let's just go downstairs." His voice is calm but laced with concern—for me.

He's concerned for me, yet I brought trouble into their home.

"But this is all my fault." My voice cracks as my emotions bubble to the surface. The urge to run is front and centre.

"We should all go, get away, go somewhere he can't find us." I'm babbling as Noah grips my elbow loosely and walks me downstairs and into the living room.

I peer over my shoulder, looking for Caleb.

"He's checking the rest of the house," he says.

My body tenses. Did he already tell me that? I have no idea because all I can hear is the rapid beat of my heart thumping in my ears like a brass drum. He directs me to the sofa and urges me to sit. I pull my legs up underneath me and try to make myself as small as possible, squeezing my eyes closed. Noah says something else, but everything is a blur.

ChapterForty-Six

CALEB

That son of a bitch was in our fucking house.

I was so consumed by Noah and Jessica, I let my guard down, and in doing so, I failed to notice as he waltzed right in like he had the fucking right to do so.

I swear he will rue the day I was born.

Jessica is a pile of shaking limbs, her sentences incoherent as Noah leads her downstairs. From the outdoor CCTV footage, I could see that he came and left within fifteen minutes. That's all it took to rip all her bed linen and destroy all her underwear.

But how the fuck did he find her?

Once I am confident the house is clear, I head back downstairs; Noah is kneeling in front of Jessica, holding out a glass of whiskey as he tries to coax her back from the vacant expression lining her face. A few hours ago, she was flushed and thoroughly fucked—content, happy and safe. Now she's reverting to the girl who arrived less than a few months ago.

"Damn it." Noah moves as I step up beside him, towering over Jessica. She doesn't even look up. "Hell, no." I lean down, wrap my fingers around her throat, and squeeze just enough to draw her attention to me when she gasps for breath.

"Fuck, Caleb." Noah grabs my arm, but I shrug him off.

"Jessica." I squeeze again, and her eyes begin to focus. "You with us, Jessica?"

She licks her lips and swallows. I keep my fingers where they are to keep her grounded.

"Yes," she says, but her voice sounds broken.

I let out a breath. "I am so fucking sorry. This is my fault."

She tries to shake her head, but I tighten my hold.

"No, don't you dare. I left the door unlocked—left us vulnerable."

I glance at Noah, who clenches his jaw, but he says nothing as I continue.

"But he's fucking delusional if he thinks he can walk into our house and threaten the people I love."

Shit, that's something I need to talk to Noah about, just the two of us, not just blurt it out in the heat of the moment, even if I mean it.

"Fuck," I say under my breath.

Noah's hand lands on my shoulder, telling me silently it's okay.

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