Page 23 of Only Everything
“You just couldn’t resist, could you? I knew you’d run. I was coming back for you, but I was right. You’re leaving. That apartment was for you.”
Sobs and a stretched-out scream filled my interior. All I saw in that moment was red. I saw flashes of my mother’s smile. Moments of bruises and tears from Tauren. Bloody bodies blinded me and honking from an oncoming vehicle had me jerking the wheel as I sucked in deep breaths.
“Sir? Sir, are you alright?” She read out a location, but my vision blurred for the smallest moment.
“Yes. I’m fine. That’s the road I’m on. Are the police on their way?” I brought my other phone closer. “Tauren! Tauren, are you okay?”
My yells were only met with silence on the other end. But then a whisper. Even though the volume was up all the way and I knew the operator could hear, I still tried to turn it up.
“Look what you’re making me do.Fuck. We can fix this,Tauren. You can stop running. You’re going to stop fucking running from me. Right?Right!”
A deep gasp sounded as she tried scraping in all the air she could get. Coughing quickly followed. My image blurred with rage. I was going to tear Emmett to pieces. He was choking her.Choking what was mine.I wanted to rip out his throat with my teeth and be in his face, screaming,she’s mine! Tauren. Is. Mine!
Light reflected against black metal, and I almost missed it with how the truck was buried in the trees. I locked up my brakes, sliding forward. I could feel the back end of the truck begin to slide out, but I corrected it as I jerked to a stop on the shoulder.
I knew the operator was speaking to me, but I wasn’t comprehending anything but my need for violence. I threw the truck in park and left the door open as I raced into the trees at a sprint. All I did anymore was train, and I put every muscle in my body to use as I clutched to my phone, bringing it back to my ear as I flashed by trees at record speed. It was dark. Damn near pitch black, but there was just enough light for me to somehow not have to slow. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe a miracle. Maybe it was love, itself. I didn’t care, so long as it got me to Tauren. Emmett obviously hadn’t known she was on the phone. He didn’t know I was coming.
He was about to find out.
CHAPTER 8
TAUREN
It wasthe nausea from the sway that drew me from the darkness. There was a constant thump-thump of footsteps that made it feel like I was rocking on a boat. I groaned, whimpering as I tried to swallow past the burning ache in my throat. My entire body was screaming in agony. My head lifted, only to fall as I was drawn deeper into a chest.
“Almost there. Keep sleeping.”
The sudden gentle rocking didn’t help soothe me—the voice. I sobbed, feeling Emmett hug around me tighter.
“No need to be upset. We’re going to make you all better. You clearly weren’t thinking straight. I mean, trying to leave me? Crying while we made love?Love, Tauren. Tonight was special. We got engaged.We could be having a baby.And you were leaving me while you thought I was gone?”
“I can’t?—”
My voice was barely audible as I tried to push out the words. I couldn’t even continue through the pain.
“Clearly, what you can’t do is see the mistake you’re making. You’re tired. This hike took a lot out of you. That’s my fault. I’ve had a lot of time to think about this, and I see that now. We’ll lay you down, and I’ll give you a nice massage. I’ll show you how much you love me, and you’ll see how wrong you were when you tried to leave. Or…”
He trailed off, ducking under the sudden hanging vines that had me thrashing in his arms. I knew where we were. Had I been passed out for so long?
Wind picked up, and I clung around Emmett’s neck in a death grip.
“Or… maybe I should accept that you’re finished. Is that what we are? We’re done?” Rocks slid around his feet as he stepped onto the cliff. “You can be honest. You can tell me the truth.”
“N-not done.No.”
“I can’t hear you. You’re going to have to speak up.”
His arm dropped from under my knees as it lifted so that he could hold along my ribs. He still had his other arm barred across my back, and I was locked around his neck as my legs straightened but didn’t reach the ground.
“Not done. Not!”
“I can still barely hear you. You must be getting sick. You’ve lost your voice. Did you say we’renotdone? I mean, if you did, I can take you back to the tent.” Fingers dug into my side painfully. “I can make you feel better. We can talk over our future.” Slowly, he bent down, lowering me until my feet touched the ground, but I wouldn’t let go. Not with the cliff a mere foot behind me.
“Not done. Not,please.Please. Emmett.”
“Hmm.” He reached up, grabbingboth of my wrists behind his head, prying them free to clasp between us. “You haven’t convinced me. Try again.”
Sobs, and I couldn’t stop them. “I want to go lay down. Massage. I-I want a massage. I’m sick. I’m not t-thinking straight.”
