Page 92 of Forever Theirs

Time shifted into slow motion as she raised the hand gripping the knife, sharp point aimed right at Jubie’s chest. With no weapon in sight, not even a damn lamp to swing at her head, I was out of options. Well, good options, which meant I needed to move forward with terrible option number one.

I didn’t hesitate; the adrenaline pumping in my veins amped me up more than a thousand cups of coffee. With as much force as I could muster to clear the small distance, I launched myself at the terrible woman, hands outstretched to tackle her, and then…

Well, I hadn’t gotten that far.

The glinting knife was just above Jubie’s side when she noticed me and raised both hands, but nothing would stop my momentum. I smashed into Jessica with a grunt, something slicing through my skin, leaving fire in its wake. Together, we flew backward, the world around me spinning during the short free fall. Her back slammed to the floor, and her pained cry rattled around the cabin a second before I dropped on top of her with a grunt that cut off when my forehead bounced off the unforgiving wood.

My teeth rattled with the impact. The taste of copper filled my mouth where I bit my tongue or cheek, but that didn’t matter with the raging inferno of agony pulsing from the wound on my arm. I’d barely taken a single breath before it exploded from my lungs with the hard shove that threw my limp body off Jessica. Crying out in a mix of pain and anger, I rolled to my back. Gasping, attempting to breathe through the agony, I blindingly felt for the wound. Hot, sticky blood coated my skin, pumping freely and dripping to the floor.

A muffled curse had me rolling the back of my head along the floor toward the sound. Jessica struggled to stand. Stumbling, she caught herself on the wall with the hand not pressed against the growing crimson stain on the thigh of her light jeans.

“You fucking bitch,” she screamed, tears leaking down her face. When she looked at me, her eyes went wide, focused on my arm. One step, then another. She slowly backed away, shaking her head. “No, no, no. I’m not going down for this.”

Well, that was not the reassurance that I needed.

Panic filled my veins. Crying out, I lifted my arm, gasping through the pain, barely glimpsing the long, wide gash that ran from my wrist to elbow. I let it drop back to the floor, but I didn’t feel the impact.

“What’s going on?” My thoughts swam. “What happened? Jubie,” I called out. “Jubie!”

“Damnit.”

I looked at Jessica, her form blurrier than a few seconds ago, and why did it sound like she was talking underwater?

Eyes wide, she stumbled out the open back door, gaze locked on me until she turned and fled. All I could hear was my own rasped breaths sawing in and out of my tight lungs. My tongue felt too large for my mouth, thick and dry, as I tried to call for her to come back. She couldn’t get away with this.

She didn’t come back.

With the palm of my uninjured arm pressed to the hardwood, I pushed myself up to a sitting position, sliding a few times with the slick blood—my blood—coating the floor beneath me, and leaned against the couch. With some help, I gently lay my injured forearm on my lap. Bright red liquid pumped from the wound, soaking my jeans instantly. The room spun and my stomach rolled at my first up-close look at it.

A whimper had me slowly looking at Jubie.

Jubie.

I had to help her, and get help for myself before…

Knowing I had little time before I blacked out from blood loss, I gritted my teeth and used the couch as leverage to help me stand. After a few tries, I was up, though I wavered, body swaying with the way the room rotated.

Arm cradled to my chest, I started for the door, bouncing against the furniture and wall to keep me upright. A pitiful cry scraped up my throat when I finally made it to the door. Shoulder to the wood for support, I considered grabbing my phone. Even with the blood loss and wine-saturated brain, I knew that would be a waste of precious time.

The only local numbers I had were the guys’, and who knew where they were. I needed helpnow. Not only for myself and Jubie but to chase after Jessica. She couldn’t get away, not when I knew without a doubt she would try again or even move on to something worse, like harming the guys directly.

The tacky blood coating my palm had it slipping around the smooth metal door handle before I could get a grip and twist it open. The bright sun pierced my eyes as I stumbled out onto the porch, my shoulder slamming into a post, which saved me from tumbling over the railing.

Lips parted, breaths frantic and way too shallow, I blinked to clear my vision, scanning the empty street for anyone around who could help me. Voices and movement had my gaze sliding to where two forms rounded one cabin, their backs to me as they walked in the opposite direction. From where I was, plus the tears and hair clouding my vision, I couldn’t tell who it was, but it didn’t matter.

Anyone here would help me. I knew that as firmly as I knew I loved Miles and Aiden.

Careful not to face-plant, I stumbled down the porch steps and began shuffling my way toward the two men.

“Help,” I rasped, licking my dry lips. “Please,” I begged, forcing more strength into my voice, hoping they’d hear me.

They paused and turned, giving me a burst of energy to keep moving toward them.

As soon as they started racing my way, as if knowing help was imminent, my legs gave out, sending me crumpling to the road. The ground vibrated beneath me, and then a familiar face loomed over me, blocking out the too-bright sun. Langston’s dark gaze scanned my face, brows pulling in tight like he was actually concerned.

“Holy shit. Look at her arm, Lang. Fuck, Aspen, what happened?” I slid my gaze to the person who spoke. Liam, Baylee’s boyfriend.

“Help Jubie,” I rasped.

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