Page 120 of Debts and Desires
“He pushed me up against the door, g-grabbed me… all over.” I didn’t care who it was at that point. I was going to break each one of his fucking fingers before cutting them off and making him eat them.
“You said he’s been there before? Who was it?”
“He’d stop in asking for you, b-but I don’t think he was ever there for you. It was always when you weren’t there.” I think it was shock she was in, like she couldn’t hear me. Or she was avoiding it. I gently shook her, as if trying to wake her up.
“Who it was, Emogen?!”
“Jed. His name is Jed.”
Everything went black.
46. STAY IN THE TRUCK
November 8
Day Seventy-Three
Carter stilled. Any semblance of humanity that he possessed was gone.
The ragged breath he let out was the only warning I got before he pulled my arms off him and started walking to his truck.
“Carter, don’t!” I called.Relief had flooded through me the moment I pulled in and saw Carter. But now? Now that relief was gone, and I was even more terrified. I followed, only barely remembering to push the button for the bay door to close. I reached the truck just as it roared to life. I ushered Mac in, and the moment the door closed behind me, Carter peeled out. The tires kicked up clouds of dust in their wake.
“Carter, please,” I pleaded. I don’t even know what I was pleading for. He didn’t respond, his jaw clenched tight as he navigated us to wherever we were headed. His knuckles were white against the steering wheel, his gaze fixed straight ahead. It was like he was a man possessed, driven by an inner fire that burned with a fierce intensity. Like it needed to consume.
All I could do was hold on tight.
We arrived at the Hudsonville Baptist Church, almost taking out a light pole as we turned into the parking lot. Jed’s truck was there and my blood turned to ice.
“Stay in the truck,” Carter growled, his voice unrecognizable. His door burst open a moment later and he stormed out, his eyes blazing with fury. I hesitated for a moment, torn between obeying Carter’s command and following my instinct to stay by his side. But as he disappeared into the church, his figure swallowed by the darkness within, I knew I couldn’t just sit while he faced the demon that lurked inside.
Whether it was the demon in the church or the demon inside himself, I didn’t know.
“Mac, stay,” I said, ignoring Carter’s directive. I threw open the door and hurried after Carter, my heart pounding in my chest as I stepped into the dimly lit interior of the church lobby. The air was heavy with the scent of incense and old wood, the sound of my footsteps echoing off the walls as I searched for Carter. I could hear his heavy footfalls as he growled, “You.”
I followed his voice and found him in the sanctuary, standing in front of the altar with his fists clenched at his sides, his eyes fixed on something—or someone—a few feet away. I followed his gaze and saw Jed standing there. His expression twisted into a sneer as he glared back at Carter.
“Leviticus,” Jed mocked, his voice echoing throughout the empty sanctuary. Jed looked up, his eyes locking onto me. A disgusting smirk crossed his lips. “I see your littlewhoredidn’t run after all.” Carter straightened the moment whore was said, stepping forward, closer and closer to the preacher.
I wanted to speak, to intervene somehow, but the words caught in my throat. Before I could process what was happening, Carter lunged forward, his fist connecting with Jed’s jaw with a sickening thud. The sound echoed through the church, reverberating off the walls as Jed stumbled backwards, caught off guard by the sudden attack.
The two men grappled with each other, trading blows as they fought. But Carter was stronger, his rage fueled by a fierceprotectiveness that burned like a wildfire. There was something more behind it, something I couldn’t place. Whatever it was, it was personal, more personal than what had happened to me. It was like something out of a nightmare, a primal display of violence and aggression that left me reeling.
He’s going to kill him.
He’s going to kill him, Emmy! Stop him!
STOP HIM!
“Carter!” I screamed, my limbs finally coming back to life. I ran to him, grabbing his upraised arm. Try as I might, I wasn’t strong enough to pull him off. “Carter!” I begged, still holding as he delivered the next blow. I was moved with the jolt.
He’s going to kill him, Emogen!
I hesitated, wondering if it would really be such a bad thing.
Carter will go to jail. You’ll never see him again.
I stepped in front of my protector, pushing at him just as he went to hit Jed again. I flinched at the incoming blow, but it never came. Carter was breathing heavily, eyes wild, just like they were at the bar weeks ago.
