LOGINBut eventually, Riley came to where I was.“What happened?” she asked, panicked. Her frantic gaze took in the state of me. “They told me Vanessa is in the ER? Is that her blood? Oh, Gods, I knew she shouldn’t have went!”Riley’s words shook me from my trance, and I focused on her. “You know where sh
Jason’s POVVanessa slumped in my arms, and my heart cracked down the middle, in time with a nearby lightning strike. Leaning forward, I tried to use my body to shield hers from the rain as much as I could, but she was already soaked through. The blood poured from her back, sinking into the dirt and
They called after me. They chased me as I rushed into the nearby woods.Everything in my body was begging for me to turn around, to go back for Ava. But I couldn’t. To go back would mean I would die, and how could I help Ava if I was dead? Instead, I had to push forward, to fight for survive, and th
Jason’s POVSomething wasn’t right with me. My body was sluggish, with darkness swarming at the edge of my vision. I fought hard to stay awake, when sleep seemed so very tempting. My mind struggled to focus, but I knew, distinctly, even if I couldn’t remember why, that I needed to gather my thoughts
Still, I exhaled in relief so prominently that Adelaide noticed.“Did you think she’d be hurt? I said she was just going to a specialist.”I wanted to see her, to hold her, and let her know I was with her, but when I reached for the door handle, it wouldn’t budge. Locked.“Open this,” I said at once
Laila’s POVHurt rushed through me as I hung up the phone. I knew better than to fully trust Brittany, who had lied about so many things in the past, but why else would she have had Jason’s phone? Why would he have let her answer it? Why did it sound like someone was in the background grunting like
“Yes, yes, that’s all well and good,” she said, waving her hand like she was trying to wave away the last few words I had said. “Come inside and I’ll tell you about some interesting investments. I’m sure you will agree they’ll be worth your time.”I followed her into the house. The butler stayed at
Jason’s POVI sat at the desk in my office, glaring at Hank as he sat in the chair across from me. Marcus stood nearby, his arms crossed.Hank wasn’t smirking as much as he had in the past, likely because we had disrupted his entire day by dragging him here. Some of my guard were still standing outs
“I can keep watch outside the door,” I told her. “If that would make you more comfortable.”“I can’t ask you to do that.”“You aren’t asking. I’m offering.”“I’m f-fine,” she said, but her voice wavered.“Don’t worry about anything,” I told her. “You get your shower. I’ll keep you safe.”Again, she
Laila's POVAva's breathing had finally evened out, turning soft and steady.I sat beside her bed, running my fingers through her dark hair. She looked so small in that hospital bed. Too fragile.The machines beeped around us. Heart monitor steady, but reminding me how precarious everything was.He







