Page 46 of Possession

I sagged in relief and barely held back the sob of happiness. “Thank you, Grady. You’re doing the right thing.”

His smile was a little sad as he rose from his chair. He held out a hand, one that, no matter what decision he’d just made, I was reluctant to take. In a show of good faith, I placed my hand in his. I screamed when he jerked me toward him, spinning me around and trapping my back against his front. A burning pain spread across my neck. I struggled, even as I could feel a warmth running down my chest.

“Stupid bitch,” Jordan spat against my cheek, the bloodied knife flashing in front of my face. “Did you really think I was going to go away that easily? You said yourself how worthless Grady was. I can’t believe how fucking gullible you were to think that you could bring that pussy back so easily. Please. Grady’s gone. I’m the one in charge now. Can you feel your heart pounding? That rush of fucking adrenaline?”

I could hear his voice, but I couldn’t make out his words while I gasped for air. My hand went to my throat and found wetness there. He hadn’t sliced an artery, but I was still bleeding profusely. My body was in shock. I couldn’t fight. I was completely numb.

“I’ve wanted to see you bleed for months, Madeline. The sight of it now spreading across your shirt makes me hungry for more.”

Jordan ground his pelvis against my ass, his erection telling me exactly what he was hungry for. Bile rose in my throat, burning a path upward, but I swallowed it down. The pain in my neck truly registered, and tears scorched a path down my cheeks. I didn’t want to die like this.

Still holding me against him, he propelled us forward toward the hallway that I presumed led to a bedroom. The synapses in my brain finally started firing, because my fight mechanism kicked in and some of the self-defense moves my friend, Connor, had taught me suddenly came to mind. My body went completely limp and while I collapsed, I grabbed Jordan’s forearms, breaking his hold on me. The minute my knee hit the floor I drove an elbow upward into his groin. He hunched forward in agony. I jumped to my feet and with both fists gripped together to form a club, I used all my force and momentum to bash my hands against the side of his head. I turned and raced for the door, throwing it open and rushing outside.

Not wanting to waste any precious seconds, I took off down the driveway and headed toward where I thought I remembered the road being. It was the middle of the night and even with the full moon shining down, visibility was limited. I stumbled on the rocks, but thankfully kept my balance, but just barely.

“There’s nowhere to go, Madeline,” Jordan roared from somewhere behind me. My pace didn’t slow and I didn’t look back. Arms pumping, heart racing, I sucked in lungfuls of air as I sprinted as fast as I could. I had no idea where I was and I warred with myself. Did I stay on the road and hope for a car to possibly come by, even though the chances were slim to none given how late it was and the fact we seemed to be in the middle of nowhere? Common sense told me to try and hide in the forest until morning light and then make my escape. The decision was made for me when I spotted the brightening lights coming from around the curve in the road and the sound of a vehicle.

I began waving my arms wildly. “Help! Please, help me!”

Suddenly, the wind was knocked out of me as I was tackled from behind. My vision blackened when my head slammed against the concrete.

“You fucking cunt.” I could barely make out the words from the ringing in my ears. “I’m gonna cut your fucking heart out of your chest.”

“Freeze! Put down the knife. Now.”

I turned my head but quickly squeezed my eyes shut when the glare of headlights almost blinded me.

“I said, put the knife down. Or don’t, because I’d really like to put a bullet in your Goddamn brain.”

The concussion I most likely had must be making me hear things, because I could have sworn that was Nathaniel’s voice.

“Angel, are you okay?”

I whimpered and choked back a sob. I wasn’t crazy. Joseph was the only one who called me ‘angel.’ They were here. My eyes opened and I looked up at Jordan who was straddling my stomach.

“I’m okay,” my voice came out shaky and hoarse. God, my throat hurt so bad.

The white of the headlights illuminated his features. The knife was clutched tightly in his fist and rested on his thigh. I could see his muscles twitch like he was resisting any movement. He was looking down at me with so many emotions it was overpowering. Behind the hatred, I also saw love. Mostly, though, I saw sadness and defeat. Jordan knew that it was over. His face then became expressionless and he zoned out. I knew he was dissociating.

He blinked and focused his gaze back on me. Grady had returned. He looked down at the knife, then up at my men, then back toward me. His expression shifted to something undefinable.

“I’m sorry. For everything,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

It all happened so fast. Grady roared, raised the knife now clutched in both fists in the air, and I flinched, my eyes slamming shut as I prepared for death. Gunshots sounded and I felt his entire body jerk and twitch. My eyes flew open and his body was frozen, a pained expression on his face. The knife fell from his upraised hands, metal clattering against the pavement, the sound coming loudly from next to my ear. I could only watch as dark, crimson spots formed on his clothes, growing larger with each passing second.

Shuffling noises drew my attention and then Grady’s body tumbled sideways off mine. Gentle hands lifted me off the ground and soon I was cradled in Nathaniel’s arms. Still, I couldn’t look away from the man lying on the ground. He stared up at me with such sadness, his mouth moved soundlessly with the words “I love you.” He took in one last shuddering breath and then… nothing.

“Jesus, she’s bleeding. Get me a cloth or something.” Joseph barked out the order as my Nathaniel carried me toward the car. My teeth began to chatter and my whole body shook.

“Fuck, she’s going into shock. Kurt, call 9-1-1 now. Joseph, grab my jacket.”

Warmth surrounded me as Nathaniel climbed into the backseat with me still wrapped in his arms. His scent surrounded me when his coat was placed over us. I couldn’t control the tremors that wracked my body.

“Shh, pet, don’t cry. We’ve got you. You’re safe.” I didn’t even realize I was crying. Since Nathaniel still cradled me, it must have been Joseph brushing my hair off my face. I forced my eyes open to look at him. I needed the reassurance that this wasn’t just a dream and that they were truly here. Through blurred vision, he was there like a lifeline waiting to catch me.

“I need to put this on your neck to stop the bleeding.” Movement followed his words, and I sucked in a pained breath when he applied pressure to my wound.

“Paramedics are on their way. I also double checked on”—Kurt, if I remembered correctly, paused and nodded his head in the general direction of where Grady’s body was—“our deceased.”

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