Page 149 of Into the Woods

Leave Linc? Fine. I’d done that too.

But I drew the line at leaving him.

I opened my mouth to argue… and heard a soft click. The sound broke the stillness of the night, and time seemed to crawl to a stop.

“You always were blinded by this girl,” Jasper Woods said with a chuckle as he pointed the barrel of a gun at Court’s head.

CHAPTER 46

BEX

Court’s gaze slid to mine. I saw the concern in his eyes as he realized we were in trouble. “She has nothing to do with this.”

“You know,” Jasper mused, “this is quite the coincidence. First, I run into Rebecca here, and now I see you? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you joined my other disappointments in rebelling against me.”

Court didn’t reply. He didn’t move a muscle.

“General…” I’d try begging. “Please—”

“Shut up,” he snapped, his dark gaze flicking to me. “This is all your fault, you little bitch. Should’ve killed you when I had the chance back when you were an annoying little brat fucking up my son’s future.”

“Fuck you,” Court hissed through clenched teeth, the heavy rise and fall of his chest showing he was close to losing his shit.

General Woods sighed and looked at me. “See? Even now, I have a gun to his head, and he’s more concerned about me insulting you. Be a good girl and come stand the fuck in front of me.”

I moved on wooden legs, watching as he used his free hand to grab the gun tucked into the back of Court’s pants. He hurled it away from us.

Court grimaced. “Just let her go. You don’t need her. You have me.”

“Weak,” General Woods muttered. “So fucking weak. Such a damn disappointment.”

“Then let’s settle this once and for all, Dad,” Court offered. “You and me—unless you need a weapon to beat me.”

The general gave a dark laugh. “Court, this isn’t going to be a fair fight. This is going to be you doing exactly what I say for the first time in your fucking life.”

“How did you find us?” I asked, not sure what I could do except keep the general talking. I looked around, praying that Ryan or someone else on our side would materialize.

General Woods looked at me like I was insane. “You honestly think I didn’t have an escape plan? I didn’t get where I am in life by taking chances, little girl. Though I must admit, I wasn’t expecting to run into the two of you out here. Talk about fortuitous coincidence.”

Court let out a slow breath. “I’ll go with you. Let Becca—”

“No!” General Woods cut him off. “We’re all going together.”

“Just take me,” I offered, hoping to de-escalate this situation. “I won’t fight back.”

“Becca, no.” Court had never sounded so pissed off.

“That’s an interesting proposition,” the general mused, looking like he was considering my offer. “You’d definitely be easier to handle than my son. And more… fun.”

I stepped back as his gaze raked over me. Fear pulsed in my veins, but I’d go with him if it meant saving Court.

“I accept your offer, Rebecca,” General Woods finally decided, his hand tightening around the gun. “I’ll even let you say goodbye to my son before I end his pathetic life.”

“No!” I screamed, my desperate cry ripping through the night. I moved toward them, not sure what I was going to do, but I’d do something.

Everything happened in slow motion. Jasper started to turn the gun on me, and the very second Court seemed to sense the gun wasn’t on him, he spun and grabbed his father’s wrist. The gun fired, the muzzle flash illuminating the dark as a bullet zipped by me.

Court knocked his father to the ground, and the gun went flying as they traded blows.

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