Page 155 of If Our Hearts Collide

Until I bump into the partial height wall, stumbling backward.

My breath stills, as if I’m in a weird dreamlike state, causing my heart to stop beating.

I see him.

Collins.

Virile.

Masculine.

Collins.

And I see him with her. Hitting her…

In just a few seconds, my life splinters apart, as a rush of realization coats my body, sending chills of coldness up my spine.

“You bastard,” I hiss. I rub at my eyes. “Collins?” It can’t be.

A buzz forms in my ears, morphing into the sound of water crashing into a pit. I take several deep breaths, my legs wanting to buckle beneath me. This can’t be happening. Staggering against the half wall, I lean my ass against the surface, clutching my heart as I suck in air through my teeth.

This cannot be happening.

If there ever was a turning point tonight, this would be it.

The moment when the stable rug that was Collins Stone gets pulled out from under me—revealing a side to himself that I know he’d want to remain hidden.

Who are you?

“What the hell are you doing here, Penny?”

Collins’s words bite like venom, making me seethe. And just like that, the strong current between us becomes deeper—wider—forcing me to either swim or drown. It’s as if the world stops spinning, causing my feet to plant and take root in their spot.

I am frozen as my mind tries to comprehend in this moment what the hell is happening. How does one solve a puzzle when all the pieces are missing?

Collins’s sigh of disapproval and frustration fills the space.

If anyone should be mad, it should be me, dammit. Like who the hell does he think he is?

“Penny, I asked you a question.” His words are a growl, and in no way should this man be pushing his anger onto me. I’m not the predator here. I’m simply the witness.

Ignoring him, I move to Daphne, who is now burying herself in a fluffy beige blanket. I didn’t even realize she was naked—or released from her hold on the table. I am just glad to see her free.

“Are you okay?” I ask her. “I can’t believe he tied you to the bench and beat you. I am”—the words get stuck in my throat—“so sorry.”

I shouldn’t be fucking apologizing for the bastard. Yet I feel responsible because I simply know him.

“It’s okay, Penny…”

“It sure as hellis not.” Why is she being casual about this? “Do you need to file a police report? You can mark me down as a witness.”

“Dammit,” Collins sneers, rubbing at his temples.

I glare at him. “Shut it.”

“It was by choice,” Daphne whispers. “I chose for it to happen.”

My jaw loses all muscle control, dropping from gravity. “What?”

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