Page 79 of Give Me Perfect Love

“Austin,” I say. “We gotta go.”

Austin’s eyes connect with mine. He’s in shock at all of this. I am a little, too. And somehow, I feel like we all just got a lot closer.

This is a secret we’ll all share. Something we’ll never talk about again, but also something we’ll never forget.

Austin reaches for Claire’s arm, pulling her from K. “Come on,” he says. The two break apart reluctantly. K wipes her face, and then I see her eye is swelling, with blood appearing under her skin. That motherfucker hit her. The urge to go back inside and kick his head in is strong, but once K comes to me and we climb into the black SUV, I know we’ve won.

Cain is gone and we’re headed home.

Together.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kathrine

I gaze out of the window, staring at wet streets and puddles near the sidewalk. A light drizzle has started up, causing the Christmas lights to look hazy from the dark tinted SUV.

I gently rub one of wrists, my mind elsewhere. Claire’s body on the floor, the sight of Cain over her, I tremble, and sadness shows itself, streaming down my cheeks.

I stare mindlessly, replaying every detail that happened back at that restaurant.

The loud sound of breaking glass, the terror in Claire’s voice.

“Whoever it is. He’ll kill them.”

“Don’t think that way, Claire. We’re getting out of this.”

I move my wrists again, feeling the zip tie cut deeper into my flesh, and then someone runs into the kitchen. I try my best to look, but in my odd position on the floor it’s hard to see who it is.

“Claire.”

Austin! Oh God.

“No!” Claire says. “Get out of here! He’ll kill you.”

Austin’s eyes go to her bunched-up dress. “No, baby.” He removes his coat and drapes it over her before dropping to his knees. Removing a knife hidden on his belt loop, he grabs her arm and moves her to the side. With one strike, he cuts the zip tie.

“Harrison.” I hear and shut my eyes for a brief moment at the sound of Jace’s voice.

“Give me your knife,” he says to Austin.

I feel his hands on my wrists, and I wince when the hard plastic digs deeper into my skin before I hear the sound of it snapping in two. My wrists sigh in relief, and I quickly bring my aching arms in front of me.

The sight of blood is not shocking. I could feel my skin was broken. Jace grabs my arm, helping me off the floor. My shoulder throbs, and I can’t control the shake throughout my body. I pull my long coat tight.

“Jesus, what did he do to you two?” Jace asks, looking over my face.

Everything hurts.

Everything.

We quickly walk out of the kitchen, but the sight before me causes my heart to seize up.

“Bryce,” I call out, seeing him with a look I’ve never witnessed before. Rage and blackness cover his face.

But the instant he looks up, something snaps free.

Everything happens too fast after that. Cain gets loose, his head connecting with Bryce’s.

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