Chapter 33
33
ASPEN
W ith a dramatic sigh, Jessica tapped the side of the blade against her jean-covered thigh. “Fine, if you’re not leaving, you can help me. Doing it here works better, actually. Letting them find her.” She slid her crazy eyes to Jubie, her brows furrowed. “Not really sure how to do this, so I guess I just…” Raising the knife, she made a stabbing motion and nodded. “Seems simple enough.”
Barely breathing through the fear squeezing my lungs, I stepped closer, both hands raised, palms out. “Please don’t do this,” I pleaded. Hot, unshed tears burned behind my eyes.
“I have to. This is how men like them learn. I’ve taught others in the past, though this might be my best lesson yet.” Oh wow. Squatting beside Jubie, she balanced on the balls of her feet. “If you won’t help, then don’t get in the way. I don’t want to hurt you while I do what has to be done, but I will.”
And there it was.
The line in the sand.
“No,” I rasped, voice barely more than a whisper. “I won’t let you do this, Jessica. Jubie didn’t hurt you. I’m begging you, don’t do this. Walk away.”
She tossed her long hair over one shoulder to look up at me with a malicious grin. “I don’t think so, Aspen. It’s too late for her and them.”
But it wasn’t.
Because I was here to stop it, no matter what.
Time shifted into slow motion as she raised the hand gripping the knife, sharp point aimed right at Jubie’s chest. With no weapon in sight, not even a damn lamp to swing at her head, I was out of options. Well, good options, which meant I needed to move forward with terrible option number one.
I didn’t hesitate; the adrenaline pumping in my veins amped me up more than a thousand cups of coffee. With as much force as I could muster to clear the small distance, I launched myself at the terrible woman, hands outstretched to tackle her, and then…
Well, I hadn’t gotten that far.
The glinting knife was just above Jubie’s side when she noticed me and raised both hands, but nothing would stop my momentum. I smashed into Jessica with a grunt, something slicing through my skin, leaving fire in its wake. Together, we flew backward, the world around me spinning during the short free fall. Her back slammed to the floor, and her pained cry rattled around the cabin a second before I dropped on top of her with a grunt that cut off when my forehead bounced off the unforgiving wood.
My teeth rattled with the impact. The taste of copper filled my mouth where I bit my tongue or cheek, but that didn’t matter with the raging inferno of agony pulsing from the wound on my arm. I’d barely taken a single breath before it exploded from my lungs with the hard shove that threw my limp body off Jessica. Crying out in a mix of pain and anger, I rolled to my back. Gasping, attempting to breathe through the agony, I blindingly felt for the wound. Hot, sticky blood coated my skin, pumping freely and dripping to the floor.
A muffled curse had me rolling the back of my head along the floor toward the sound. Jessica struggled to stand. Stumbling, she caught herself on the wall with the hand not pressed against the growing crimson stain on the thigh of her light jeans.
“You fucking bitch,” she screamed, tears leaking down her face. When she looked at me, her eyes went wide, focused on my arm. One step, then another. She slowly backed away, shaking her head. “No, no, no. I’m not going down for this.”
Well, that was not the reassurance that I needed.
Panic filled my veins. Crying out, I lifted my arm, gasping through the pain, barely glimpsing the long, wide gash that ran from my wrist to elbow. I let it drop back to the floor, but I didn’t feel the impact.
“What’s going on?” My thoughts swam. “What happened? Jubie,” I called out. “Jubie!”
“Damnit.”
I looked at Jessica, her form blurrier than a few seconds ago, and why did it sound like she was talking underwater?
Eyes wide, she stumbled out the open back door, gaze locked on me until she turned and fled. All I could hear was my own rasped breaths sawing in and out of my tight lungs. My tongue felt too large for my mouth, thick and dry, as I tried to call for her to come back. She couldn’t get away with this.
She didn’t come back.
With the palm of my uninjured arm pressed to the hardwood, I pushed myself up to a sitting position, sliding a few times with the slick blood—my blood—coating the floor beneath me, and leaned against the couch. With some help, I gently lay my injured forearm on my lap. Bright red liquid pumped from the wound, soaking my jeans instantly. The room spun and my stomach rolled at my first up-close look at it.
A whimper had me slowly looking at Jubie.
Jubie.
I had to help her, and get help for myself before…
Knowing I had little time before I blacked out from blood loss, I gritted my teeth and used the couch as leverage to help me stand. After a few tries, I was up, though I wavered, body swaying with the way the room rotated.
Arm cradled to my chest, I started for the door, bouncing against the furniture and wall to keep me upright. A pitiful cry scraped up my throat when I finally made it to the door. Shoulder to the wood for support, I considered grabbing my phone. Even with the blood loss and wine-saturated brain, I knew that would be a waste of precious time.
The only local numbers I had were the guys’, and who knew where they were. I needed help now . Not only for myself and Jubie but to chase after Jessica. She couldn’t get away, not when I knew without a doubt she would try again or even move on to something worse, like harming the guys directly.
The tacky blood coating my palm had it slipping around the smooth metal door handle before I could get a grip and twist it open. The bright sun pierced my eyes as I stumbled out onto the porch, my shoulder slamming into a post, which saved me from tumbling over the railing.
Lips parted, breaths frantic and way too shallow, I blinked to clear my vision, scanning the empty street for anyone around who could help me. Voices and movement had my gaze sliding to where two forms rounded one cabin, their backs to me as they walked in the opposite direction. From where I was, plus the tears and hair clouding my vision, I couldn’t tell who it was, but it didn’t matter.
Anyone here would help me. I knew that as firmly as I knew I loved Miles and Aiden.
Careful not to face-plant, I stumbled down the porch steps and began shuffling my way toward the two men.
“Help,” I rasped, licking my dry lips. “Please,” I begged, forcing more strength into my voice, hoping they’d hear me.
They paused and turned, giving me a burst of energy to keep moving toward them.
As soon as they started racing my way, as if knowing help was imminent, my legs gave out, sending me crumpling to the road. The ground vibrated beneath me, and then a familiar face loomed over me, blocking out the too-bright sun. Langston’s dark gaze scanned my face, brows pulling in tight like he was actually concerned.
“Holy shit. Look at her arm, Lang. Fuck, Aspen, what happened?” I slid my gaze to the person who spoke. Liam, Baylee’s boyfriend.
“Help Jubie,” I rasped.
Langston and Liam shared a look I couldn’t read before Liam disappeared. With gentle care, Langston stepped back and ripped the black T-shirt he wore over his head. If my thoughts hadn’t been stilted from the wine, concussion, and now blood loss, I would’ve appreciated his defined chest and attempted to make out the design inked there.
A loud tearing sound rang in my ears, drawing my attention away from his tattoo and to the shirt he’d ripped in two.
“This is going to hurt, but I need to bind the wound to slow the bleeding until I can get the emergency supplies from my gear bag.” His hands hovered over my arm, fingers tightening around the black cotton. “I’m going to touch you, okay?”
I guess I nodded, because he went to work wrapping the wide strip of cloth around my forearm. I bit back a scream, teeth almost cracking, as pain shot up my arm. Fresh tears leaked from my eyes as I squeezed them shut.
“The dog is out cold, drugged maybe.” Liam’s voice went in one ear and out the other. “There are signs of a struggle in their cabin, too, Lang. The back door is wide open with a fresh blood trail that leads out, which obviously isn’t Aspen’s.” He squatted beside me and pushed the hair off my sweaty forehead. “You’re going to be okay.”
“Jubie,” I whispered despite my raw throat.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Liam’s wide palm brushed along the top of my head in a comforting gesture. “I texted Baylee a 9-1-1 message. She’s on her way to focus on Jubie.”
Something tightening around my bicep had me biting my lip hard, my teeth puncturing the soft flesh. Blinking through my glassy vision, I barely made out the makeshift tourniquet Langston’s thick fingers were finishing tying off.
“Call her guys,” Langston barked. “Tell them to get their asses back here now, and call The Nest’s doctor while you run to my place for my medic kit.”
“You have a horrible disposition for a doctor,” I mumbled, thoughts growing even fuzzier from the pain and blood loss slowly shutting down my body.
Instead of being pissed, a small smile tugged at the corner of Langston’s lips. Shaking his head, he slid both arms beneath me and hauled me into the air, securing me against his bare chest.
“Put your arm on your stomach while I carry you back to the cabin.” When I did as requested, Langston started toward Miles and Aiden’s place. “And I agree with you, I would’ve been a shit doctor. But in a combat zone, my shitty attitude and demeanor didn’t matter as long as I kept soldiers alive.”
I filed away that bit of information for later.
“Miles and Aiden are on their way,” Liam said from somewhere behind us as Langston hauled me like a bride into the cabin. “Calling the doc now. Be right back with your stuff.”
The leather groaned as Langston laid me on the couch, quickly finding a pillow to prop up my head.
“This will not feel good.” I blinked at him. “Fine, it’s going to hurt like hell at first, but it’ll get better, promise.” Features set into a firm line, he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and lifted my injured arm. “Keeping it above your heart will help with the blood loss. That, plus the tourniquet. You’ll be okay, Aspen.” With gentle fingers, he brushed a few damp strands of hair off my face. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“She was going to hurt Jubie,” I slurred. My lids grew heavy, slowly shutting and refusing to reopen.
A hard shake to my shoulder jostled me along the couch. “Hey, none of that. You want to see your guys when they get here, right? Keep them from killing me.”
With determined effort, I forced my lids back open, fighting to keep them that way. “Why would they do that?”
Langston shifted on the balls of his feet where he crouched beside me. “Men like them, like us, have shit reasoning when finding their girl injured and some big asshole looming over her.”
“You’re not a big asshole.” Not sure when I changed my opinion of the guy, but here we were.
He scoffed. “Right. Now, back to what happened. Who wanted to hurt Jubie?”
“You have to stop her.” A bolt of urgency had me pushing off the couch like I was in any condition to chase after Jessica. “She wants to hurt them. Please,” I begged, “don’t let her hurt them.”
With a soft grip on my shoulder, Langston gently guided me back down to the couch. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt my friends.” He gave me a half smile. “Based on the huge egg-shaped bump on your head and gash on your forearm, it seems you fight for your friends and family too. Maybe I misjudged you, Aspen Carter.”
“Or Alaska changed me,” I murmured, lips numb.
“Ah, Alaska only brings out the core of who we are. It doesn’t change us.”
“You’re a military medic and a philosopher?” That made me think of when I met Aiden and said something similar. “Where are they?” I cried, voice shaking.
“They’re almost here, but first, I need to know one thing. Can you focus for me?” I nodded, locking eyes with him. “Who are we hunting, sweet girl? Who will I make pay for hurting you and trying to hurt my friends?”
“Jessica,” I said automatically, like I’d been given truth serum and couldn’t stop the name from leaving my lips.
A dark expression overtook his face. “Hmm, good to know.”
My eyes widened when he shifted. Panic had me reaching out, wrapping a hand around his wrist. “Don’t leave me,” I pleaded. “Not until they’re here. I don’t want to be alone.”
His lips parted but snapped shut, his words cut off by someone bellowing somewhere outside the cabin. The stomp of boots pounding against the porch followed more shouted demands of “Where the fuck is she?” and my name being called repeatedly.
The moment they entered the cabin, relief swamped me like a comforting blanket. They were here, which meant I didn’t have to be strong anymore. Miles’s face appeared over mine, and the tears that had only dripped from my eyes now erupted into massive waterfalls.
“Who hurt you, Aspen?” More tears flowed down my cheeks that he swiped away with gentle strokes. “Who am I hunting for this?”
I was still unable to get words out around the silent sobs. He scanned my face before sliding an angry look to Langston.
“What. The. Fuck. Happened? And why the hell is your shirt off?”
As if he knew it was coming, Langston gently set my arm on my chest right before Miles lunged for him, sending them both crashing to the floor. I twisted my head, too shocked to do or say anything as they rolled around, sending the coffee table flying against the stone fireplace. In a practiced move, Miles flipped around, pinning Langston to the floor with a hand wrapped around his throat.
For as much of an asshole as Langston was, he was apparently well versed in how to not agitate a man on the verge of snapping. Not once did he attempt to break Miles’s choking hold; instead, Langston lay beneath him with both hands up, looking calm and patient.
“Sweetheart.” The utter distress in Aiden’s trembling voice made more tears cascade down my cheeks, dripping onto the couch. “My sweet, sweet Aspen, who hurt you?” His voice cracked as he cradled my cheek, gaze searching my face. “Who do we need to kill for laying hands on our special girl?”
Noise at the front door had every head swiveling in that direction. Miles jumped up, drawing his sidearm in the same movement, only to immediately lower the barrel and holster the gun.
Liam crept into view, his hands up, though one held a red canvas-type bag with a white cross on the side. “Easy there, boys. Just bringing Lang his medic kit to help your girl while we wait for the doc.” Liam eyed Langston, who was still laid out on the floor, before looking at Miles with an arched brow. “You know he didn’t do this, right, Miles?”
Miles gave a confirming grunt before he begrudgingly held out a hand to help Langston off the floor. He started to say something else, but his attention snapped to the across the room. “Jubie.” My heart shattered at the despair in Miles’s voice. I couldn’t see them where I lay, but I heard a noise that sounded like he slumped to the hardwood floor. “Who hurt them in our own home?”
“Liam called Baylee,” Langston said. “She’ll be here to handle Jubie’s medical needs.” Storming over, he took the offered medical bag and leaned in to whisper to Liam, who nodded and took off through the back door. “And call Oliver,” Langston shouted after him. “We need everyone out there looking for her.”
“Her?” Aiden and Miles exclaimed at the same time.
“Yes, her,” Langston snarled while unzipping the bag. “That Jessica woman did this to your dog and girl. Though what I’m gathering is she actually went after Jubie, but Aspen stepped in and got herself knifed.”
Okay, maybe he was back to being an asshole.
“Your girl here saved her life.” He opened his bag and rummaged through it, pulling out a wrap of some kind. “This is special gauze that will help slow the bleeding, but I’ll have to unwrap what I did earlier to get it on.” He waited until I nodded. “As soon as the doc gets here, he can get you some pain meds before taking you to the clinic, where you’ll need a shit ton of stitches to close up the gash.” He looked to Aiden, then Miles. “I’ll make sure they’re with you the entire time. You won’t be alone.”
“Okay.” My hand snapped out and wrapped around his forearm. “Thank you.”
His features softened for a second before he cleared his throat with a clipped nod.
With his full focus on the task at hand, I turned wide eyes to Aiden, who still hovered close. “Please don’t leave me.”
His expression turned fierce. Kneeling beside me, he wiped at my damp cheeks. “Never, sweetheart. We’re here, no matter what.”
Almost completely numb, I didn’t really feel Langston removing the old bandage and wrapping it with the new one. With the guys there, knowing they were safe and someone was on their way to help Jubie, all the fight drained out of me. Body molding against the cushions, I let my heavy lids fall despite the frantic shouts around me.
Quickly, the voices faded into a dull hum. My sluggish heartbeat pounded in my ears.
But I wasn’t scared, not really.
Aiden said they wouldn’t leave me, no matter what.
And if they were here, then everything would be okay.
For me anyway. For Jessica…
I really, really, really hoped not.