Page 65 of Tainted Rose

I give a sharp nod, looking down at myself. I want so badly to hold her in my arms, but I’m covered in blood. I don’t want to touch her like this.

More officers enter the house, they want to ask me some questions, but I shake them off for a second. “Can I? I need to—” One of the officers nods, and I cross the room to her, breathing hard.

I squat down in front of her limp form, another burst of fear rushing through me. “Scarlett.” My voice cracks. Emotion runs swiftly through me, every single thing I feel for this girl filling my heart.

“They drugged her, Xander. That much is obvious. We’ll make sure she wasn’t harmed further than that at the hospital.” Sebastian’s eyes flick to mine. I read the worry in them. “I think we got here in time. And thank goodness Justin didn’t—”

“Don’t say it.” My stomach churns. So help me, if either of them had done what they’d planned, I’d have killed them. I’d have fucking killed them both without a second thought.

“Xander? I’m sorry,” Sebastian rasps.

“For what?”

“For not listening to you. For keeping secrets. For putting Scarlett in danger when I didn’t see—”

We lock eyes and for once, he’s finally seeing me man-to-man. “Thank you for admitting that.” I wipe my fingers on my pants, then touch Scarlett’s arm gently with my fingertips. “Does she know what’s happening? God, I don’t want her to remember this.” My heart rips wide open. I don’t want her to have memories of this horror. But it’s over now. All the bullshit. All the craziness.

A paramedic cautiously approaches us. “Sorry to interrupt. We need to get her to the hospital to be checked over. Would one of you like to ride with her? We should maybe clean you up, too.” He gestures toward my bloodied hands.

I wince as I flex my fingers. There’s a sting across my back, too, where my father hit me with his belt—for the last time. Ever.

“You go with her, Xander. When she wakes up, she’ll want to see you, not me.”

I nod, speechless as I consider again what could have happened tonight.

“Is a parent or guardian present?” asks a soft voice beside me.

Sebastian’s eyes dart to mine, then to the female EMT speaking to us before he clears his throat roughly and responds, “Yes. I’m her father.”

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