Pulse. She needed to find a pulse.
She touched the woman’s neck, but there was nothing. She couldn’t feel anything.
A choking sound tore from Aspen’s throat. She bent down and listened for breathing. Watched for any rise and fall of the other woman’s chest.
There was neither.
She was dead.
She fumbled with her phone, trying to find Jesse’s name in her contacts. She could barely see anything. Her eyes wouldn’t focus and she couldn’t think. She finally found Jesse’s name and was about to press Call when something sounded behind her—a light shuffle.
She turned her head and screamed at the blur of movement.
Something hit her hard on the head. She hit the floor and the phone fell from her fingers. Pain radiated throughout her skull.She blinked and spotted retreating red sneakers before her eyes closed.
A deep fog tried to pull her under. It was only the sudden sound of pounding footsteps growing closer that had her forcing herself to stay awake.
Was it the killer? Were they coming back to finish her off?
A deep, familiar voice sounded. The words were a blur, but that voice…she’d know it anywhere.
Jesse. He was here. Thank God.
Warm fingers touched her pulse. More indecipherable words, then his palm cupped her cheek, and she finally allowed herself to slip into the darkness, knowing she was safe with him.
CHAPTER 26
Rage punched through Jesse’s gut as he watched the doctor stitch up the wound on Aspen’s head. Someone had knocked her out, Margot wasdead, and it had all happened in his sheriff’s office while he’d been outside.
Fuck, he was angry!
He wanted to hit something. Punch his fist through a damn wall and let the pain drown out the other emotions. The fury. The frustration. The fear that had been alive inside him since seeing Aspen still on the floor beside a bleeding Margot.
Was it Dylan? Of course it fucking was. It had been confirmed that he was here in Amber Ridge. He’d probably turned off the power to lure Jesse outside so he could target Aspen…only Margot had gotten in his way and paid the price.
Jesse’s hands fisted. He wanted to kick his own ass for going outside. Aspen should have been safe in there. And Margot…shit, Margot was armed and well trained. No one should have gotten the jump on her.
“Okay, all done.” The doctor stepped back. “Those are dissolvable stitches, so no need to get them removed. You were unconscious for about ten minutes and suffered a mild concussion. So take it slow for the next couple of weeks.”
Aspen nodded. “I will.”
Jesse slipped an arm around her waist. She wouldn’t just be taking it slow. Jesse would be making sure she barely left the damn house. “Thank you, Doctor.”
The young man dipped his head. “You’re free to go when you’re ready.”
The second he stepped out, Jesse shifted in front of Aspen and gripped her hips. He was almost scared to touch her. “How are you feeling?”
There was a flash of something in her eyes…fear? Confusion? Then she blinked, and it was gone. “A bit groggy, but whatever he gave me for the headache is helping.”
Jesse ground his teeth together. She shouldn’t be in pain at all, dammit. She should have been safe in the station.
A knock on the door had them both turning.
Claudia stuck her head in. “Hey. You got a sec?”
The word “no” was on the tip of his tongue because he wanted to stay with Aspen. But Claudia had lost both a colleague and a friend tonight…they all had.
Aspen touched his arm. “Go. I’ll be okay. I want to call Callie anyway.”
