Staying For Ever (For Ever #3)

Prologue

Everly

“Get the fuck out of here, Everly. You don’t belong here.” His grip on my biceps cuts off circulation. His face is so close I can see the dark indigo ring around his irises. With a slight shake, he turns, shoves me backwards and releases me.

I stumble back to get my footing and try to reconcile the person before me with the one I think I know. I don’t know him. Every line of his face is as familiar as my own, but I don’t recognize the man in front of me or the rage oozing off him.

Before I can utter a word, he growls, “Leave. Before I throw you out.” His fury scorches, like standing too close to a fire.

I take an involuntary step backwards, the door handle pressing into my spine.

“Don’t make me, Everly. I swear I’ll do it.”

I reach for the handle and unlatch the door without turning around. I track him as I ease it open enough to slip through, my eyes bouncing between his. If I turn my back, I fear he’ll pounce—like a wild animal stalking its prey.

As soon as I’m through the door, he slams it shut, rattling it on its hinges.

I stare at the woodgrain patterns for a beat, maybe two, willing my brain to kick in, to think, to figure out how to stop him before it’s too late.

A shot, then a crash from the other side of the door pierces the momentary quiet.

Think, Everly. I can’t think. Julian! My knees threaten to buckle.

I reach into my back pocket for my phone and pull up the number I’ve had just in case. I’ve never used it and wasn’t sure I’d ever want to. I tap call. It rings once, twice. On the third ring I hear the voice I remember so well—too well now.

“Hey, Everly.”

“I didn’t know who else to call.”

“What happened?”

“They . . . He . . . I can’t stop him.”

“Send me your location. I’m on my way.”