Page 136 of Redeemed

“Get away from him.” Lucas stalks toward us, and even though Colton backs off, Lucas still shoves him before searching me over. “You okay?”

“Fine. Did Haven fall asleep again?”

Lucas shakes his head. He’s stiff as hell with his jaw set and his eyes clouded over. “She only got worse after you left. I’m going to get something to calm her down.”

The edge to his voice has me forgetting about Colton for the moment. I follow as he marches toward the garage, reaching for him.

“Luc—”

“Don’t.” He dodges me and grabs his jacket.

He’s far past pissed and miles beyond angry. Something unleashed the fury he normally keeps tamped down, and he hates being near me when that happens. He’s always afraid he’ll lash out, but I know he wouldn’t. He’s nothing like his father.

Lucas slams the garage door behind him, and moments later, I hear the sound of him starting up his bike. I hate that he thinks he has to be alone when he’s like this. Hate the way Haven is feeling right now. Hate myself for not being able to stop any of it.

We’re a mess—an absolute, goddamn mess—and it’s all Colton’s fault.

I whip around to face him. “You’re never doing something like this again, you hear me?”

Before Colton can respond, a scream comes from upstairs, quickly followed by a loud crash. We both jump into action immediately, racing up the stairs and to my room. I make it there first and burst inside.

Haven is out of bed, and one of Lucas’s pocketknives is on the floor by my dresser. Haven is crawling toward it while trying to keep herself from crying.

“What the hell are you doing?” Colton demands.

She reaches the knife and snatches it up. “I can’t get the damn thing to open.” She tries to pry the blade out with her fingers, but it doesn’t budge, so she throws it with another yell.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful for a safety mechanism on a knife.

“You don’t need a knife,” I tell her gently.

“Yes, I do.”

“Haven—”

She starts crawling toward it again, but I grab her before she can reach it and haul her back.

“No,” she yells as she thrashes in my arms. “I can’t do this. It’s not worth it. None of this is worth it.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Let mego!”She twists, managing to jam her elbow into my side.

My arms only lock around her tighter. I’ll take any pain she gives me if it means she’ll feel even a little better.

“Should’ve jumped,” she whispers. “Should’ve…”

Colton freezes, a blend of realization and horror on his face.

“What’re you talking about?” I ask, glancing between her and Colt.

“Is that why you were trying to get to the bridge the other night?” Colton asks. When Haven doesn’t answer, he crouches in front of her and grabs her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Answer me.”

She yelps, kicking at him and landing a blow to his ribcage. “Leave me alone!”

“Tell me the truth. Were you going to jump off the bridge to get away from that guy?”

With a whimper, Haven nods. Colton releases her chin and sits back on his heels. When his gaze meets mine, I’m taken aback by the anger blazing in his eyes. Not because of how potent it is—I’m used to that with Lucas—but because it’s pointed at no one but himself.

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