Page 58 of You Don’t Kiss Your Brother's Best Friends

“NO,” I said loudly, thinking the volume and ferocity of my refusal might give him pause. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

“Well, you will after this…”

He lunged, and this time his hand closed over my wrist before I could pull away. His grip was surprisingly strong. I fought to take my arm back, but he only twisted it behind me. When I felt his hot breath on my neck, I was hit by a wave of revulsion.

“You can fight it if you want to,” he growled. “But it’ll only make it longer.”

I kicked back hard, catching him in the shin, causing him to cry out in sudden pain. In a split second of surprise and outrage, he loosened his grip, and I was able to twist free.

“BITCH!”

Jacob Foley was doubled over, clutching his leg, cursing under his breath. His grunts of pain were sweet music to my ears, even though my wrist felt like it was on fire.

I was enjoying the satisfaction of his agony, when all of a sudden, he disappeared.

What the hell?

It happened in a blur of motion, and a muffled thud. When I looked again, the man was a good twelve feet from where he’d been standing, flat on his back, his face redder than the ripest cherry tomato. And that’s because someone was repeatedly punching it, and it was now covered in blood.

“Andre!”

I screamed in joy and relief. Andre was on top of Jacob Foley, raining down so many clenched fists his arms looked like a cartoonish blur. I don’t know where he’d come from, or howhe’d gotten here. All I knew was that I’d never felt happier or more grateful to see anyone, ever, in my entire life.

My joy was dashed however, as Andre suddenly cried out in pain.

“Jocelyn get back! He’s got—”

The man bucked him off, and Andre rolled toward the lake. To my dismay, I saw that he had one hand clamped over his side. His fingers were splayed. Fresh blood was welling up between them.

“AAAAHHHHH!!!”

I didn’t think, I acted. Which was good, because if I’d taken a moment to look, I might’ve hesitated at the wickedly-curved blade Jacob was now holding. He never had a chance to use it on me, because I was already barreling toward him. Screaming at the top of my lungs, I launched the full force of my weight directly into the center of his chest.

“Unngff!”

I hit him so hard I actually felt his ribs crack, followed by a hiss as the air left his lungs. He lost his footing immediately and we fell backward together, my hands scratching and clawing at whatever my nails could find.

But he was strong — much stronger than I’d anticipated. What the man lacked in stature he made up for in sheer girth and hard muscle. He flexed, I yielded, and in just a few seconds, he was rolling me onto my back and pinning my arms to the cold, wet ground.

Spittle now foamed against the cracked lips that were just above my face, further adding to my list of woes. I screamed as his hands squeezed my wrists, twisting left and right, butthere was nothing more I could do. He was simply too strong. Too filled with adrenaline, and bloodlust, and whatever else was consuming him in the heat of the moment.

My attacker’s eyes flared. There was victory in them…

And then just as abruptly, those eyes went wide with terror.

I blinked, and saw two thick arms wrapped around the man from behind. One of them had slid tightly beneath his chin, like the tattooed coil of some giant boa constrictor. The other was locked over the first arm, clamping it tight… squeezing the breath — and life — out of the Founder known as Jacob Foley. He struggled savagely for a few more seconds, clawing and pounding at the blood-stained arms that were depriving him of the last of his oxygen. Eventually though, his eyes unfocused. His arms fell back to his sides, limp as noodles.

I stared into the fierce, wild eyes of my savior, his arms so tight they were actually shaking.

It was a disturbingly long time before he finally let go.

~ 34 ~

JOCELYN

My head was still spinning when Andre stood up, chest heaving, blood streaming from the wound in his side. He offered me his hand, but I pushed it away.

“Andre, you’re bleeding!”

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