Page 78 of Jasper

Not as I work the clasp of his watch loose with shaking fingers.

Click.

The watch slips off and falls to the ground with a soft clatter, barely audible over his ranting. I don’t know where Jasper is, but I know this asshole’s friends have no idea who they just messed with. It won’t be long before Jasper finds my trail.

He shoves me again, harder this time, and wrenches open the car door.

“No!” I scream, kicking out as he tries to shove me inside. My foot lands against his shin, but he barely flinches. He just grabs me tighter and throws me into the back seat like I weigh nothing.

The door slams shut behind me, trapping me in darkness.

My chest heaves, lungs struggling to pull in air.

Before I can scramble to find a way out, he’s already in the front seat. The engine roars to life, tires squealing as he throws it into drive and punches the gas. The seatbelt clasp digs into my side as I’m flung sideways, catching myself with trembling hands against the door.

My heart pounds so loud it drowns out the rumble of the road.

He’s laughing.

Like this is a game.

“Hold on, sweetheart,” he sneers, glancing in the rearview mirror. “This is gonna be one hell of a ride.”

Terror twists through my chest, tightening like a vise, but underneath it, something else stirs. Hot. Furious.

I’m not going to let this asshole destroy me. Or the amazing life I’ve just begun to live.

Adrenaline surges, sharp and fast, and I launch myself forward, screaming.

“I’m going to kill you!”

My nails dig into his shoulder, clawing, ripping. I slam my fists into the side of his head, grab the collar of his shirt, and yank with everything I have. He curses, swerving, trying to shake me off.

“Stop it!” he snarls, swatting at me with one hand while the other struggles to keep control of the wheel. The car veers wildly, wheels shrieking as we bounce off the edge of the road.

“Fuck you!” I scream, thrashing with everything I’ve got.

He tries to shove me back, but it’s too late.

The world jerks sideways.

A blinding flash of motion. Screeching rubber. Metal crunching.

And then?—

Impact.

The car slams into something solid with a sickening crack. My head snaps forward, then sideways. Pain flares sharp and sudden. Right before my world goes black.

* * *

When I come to, the air is thick with smoke and the horrid smell of gasoline. I feel hands on me. Strong ones. Lifting me. Carrying me.

I blink, vision swimming, ears ringing so loud I can’t hear anything else. Everything is muffled and far away, like I’m underwater.

Jasper’s face comes into view, strained with panic, his mouth moving, but I can’t make out the words.

I try to speak. To tell him I’m here. That I’m okay.

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