Page 25 of Only Everything
Emmett threw his weight forward, right into my brother. Both men hit the ground hard. Blood was smeared along Emmett’s mouth and cheek, looking black in the darkness. Even Reid had blood trailing down his chin.
I couldn’t think. All I could feel was terror as I tried to imagine how my life was going to be after this. Emmett sure as hell wasn’t going to let it go now. He’d come after me again. And now Reid would have to endure this as well. The harassment. The stalking and threats.
“Stop it!”
I paced, fisting my hair as the men continued to tradepunches. But it wasn’t right. Reid wasn’t fighting back like he’d been before. He was letting Emmett hit him. And if Emmett got the upper hand…he’d kill Reid. He’d hurt him.
Frantically, my eyes searched the area. With how the clouds were clearing out, the moon gave view to different sized rocks on the ground. I grabbed a smaller one, but it was still so big, I could barely wrap my hand around it.
“E-Enough! Dammit. Reid! Emmett!”
Emmett rolled Reid to his back, and I didn’t think. I couldn’t. I stepped in, swinging the large rock with everything I had. Emmett’s wide body flew to the side, and I could see blood running a river over the large gash on his forehead. A groan left him as he tried to push to sit up, but he swayed, falling more towards the cliff.
“Taur-en. Fucking bitch. You’re dead. You wait.”
“I said stop it. We’re done. I never want to see you again.” I turned to my brother. “Reid, please.I want to go.”
“You’re not leaving. You’re never leaving me.” Emmett surged up, swaying, his eyes a blaze as he righted himself. Before I could process what I was seeing, air exploded from his mouth. Reid’s boot connected with his ribs, and Emmett’s arms flew back, swinging wildly as he disappeared over the edge. My mouth gaped but nothing would come out as I stared into an empty darkness.
For seconds I couldn’t move. Branches broke. A loud grunt sounded. Seconds or eternity passed before a heavy thunk landed on rock below. My legs gave out, but I didn’t fall. I couldn’t with how fast Reid had made it to me. He was curling around from behind, holdingme up as I sobbed.
“Shh. I got you. It’s going to be okay now. Shh.”
“Reid, what have we done?”
“… What was always going to happen. I said I’d protect you.” His tone turned deeper, more absolute. “You said you were mine.He’s lucky I didn’t have more time.”
Harder I cried, turning to hold onto Reid. For the first time, I heard the barrage of multiple sirens in the far distance. Even though I felt like this was an ending to a nightmare, I couldn’t ignore it was one I created.
Had I known my choices would come down to this?
Maybe I did.
Maybe I didn’t.
Someone had to fall. … This time it wasn’t me.
CHAPTER 9
REID
I watchedTauren sleep for hours. Had she ever slept so long. So deep?
It was the medication she’d received from the hospital. I knew that, but I couldn’t help but pretend that I had something to do with how comfortably she rested here in my bed. Not my secret room, butmy bed.
No handcuffs. No making her feel my pain. No teasing her to remind her how I could make her lose control. Not yet… Just Tauren, curled on her side facing me as she slept.
Did this have to end? Did I have to wake her?
Love.
Had I ever loved her as much as I did in this moment? Her peace brought my own. It was a coziness spiked with cravings, and my state of mind was so different from the hell I’d lived since I left her. I didn’t want this to end. I didn’t want to wake her.
The dread was real.
Everything was different now.
Just because Emmett was out of the picture didn’t mean Tauren was mine. Hell, she might end up further away than ever. I couldn’t allow that. I also couldn’t smother her with what I wanted. There had to be balance or the risk landed her right back in my special room…which wasn’t so bad either. But it’s not what I wanted if given the option. It was only a last resort—a finalization to all.
