Page 169 of Down Knot Out
“Shut up!” Simon stumbles over exposed roots, and his breathing comes in ragged gasps, his body trembling with manic energy. “Shut her up, or I swear I will.”
He releases my mouth to grab Quinn, yanking her from my arms. She cries out, her small body dangling from his grip.
“Let her go!” I lunge for her, but Simon shoves me back with enough force to send me sprawling.My palms scrape over pine needles and dirt, my skin tearing.
“Both of you, quiet!” Simon’s eyes are wild in the dim light filtering through the trees. He still holds Quinn, who whimpers but stops screaming, her face white with fear.
My chest heaves as I struggle to breathe. The smoke in my lungs burns with each inhale, and blood trickles down my temple where a branch caught me. I lost the blanket when Simon grabbed us, and Dominic’s shirt hangs on my frame, leaving my legs and arms exposed to the cool night air.
“Simon, this is insane.” I force myself to stay calm. “The police are already here. They’ll find us.”
A brittle laugh escapes him, and the unhinged sound raises the fine hairs on my body. “You think I care about that? Nothing matters anymore.”
Quinn trembles in his grip, no longer dangling but still trapped. I try to project a calm to her that I don’t feel, silently promising to us both that I’ll get her out of this.
“Why did you set the fire?” I push myself to my knees. “You could have killed everyone.”
Simon’s face contorts, flickering between rage and hurt. “If I can’t have you, no one can.” He pulls Quinn closer, using her as a shield. “They took everything from me. My career, my standing,everything I built. All because you couldn’t stick to the plan.”
The distant wail of sirens carries through the trees. Simon’s head snaps toward the sound, and his grip on Quinn tightens until she whimpers.
“The plan was never real.” I inch forward on my knees. “Gregory was using you, just like he used my mother and tried to use me.”
His free hand strikes out, catching me across the face. Stars explode through my skull, and the taste of copper floods my mouth.
“Shut up!” Spittle flies from his lips. “You chose those mongrels over me! After everything I did for you!”
Quinn slaps at him. “Don’t hurt my aunt!”
Simon blinks down at her, as if only just remembering she exists. His grip loosens, and Quinn stomps on his foot with all her strength.
He yelps, dropping her arm. Quinn stumbles but stays upright, frozen between fleeing and staying near me.
“Run,” I whisper.
Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t move.
“Run!” I scream, lunging at Simon.
My shoulder connects with his stomach, driving him back a step. Quinn bolts, her small form disappearing into the trees.
Simon roars with rage, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking my head back.
Pain explodes across my scalp as he drags me upright. His other hand fumbles in his pocket, emerging with a knife that glints in the distant firelight.
“You stupid bitch.” He presses the blade to my throat. “Always running away from what’s best for you.”
The cold metal kisses my skin, not quite breaking it. I swallow, feeling the edge dimple my skin with the movement.
“Why me?” I ask, trying to buy time and praying Quinn makes it back to the others.
Simon’s breath scorches my skin. “Youmademe.” The knife traces a slow line down my neck. “You wrote my soul into those pages. With every line, every word, I felt you calling to me. And then youabandonedme.”
His face hardens. “You were supposed to choose me. But you gave yourself totheminstead.”
As he raises the knife to strike, I drive my elbow backward, connecting with his ribs. He grunts, his grip loosening enough for me to break free. I scramble forward, but his hand closes around my ankle, yanking me back.
My knees hit the ground hard, sending painshooting up my legs. I kick out, my bare foot connecting with his face. Blood spurts from his nose, but his grip doesn’t falter again.
