Another slam against the wood. Another groan of the lock.
One ring, and he answered. “Aspen—”
“I need help!”
Jesse’s voice changed. Became harder…alarmed. “What’s wrong?”
“Dylan’s here.”
Movement sounded over the line. “What do you mean, he’s there?”
Another bang. She didn’t have long. She searched the room for a weapon. There had to be something. “He’s inside the house! I’ve locked myself in the bedroom but—” The next bang made her entire body flinch. “He’s going to break in.”
“Luke will be there soon—”
“No. Dylanhad my laptop, Jesse! He must have done something to Luke.” Her gaze landed on a bottle of perfume sitting on the dresser. She sprinted across the room and snatched it up.
“Aspen, I’m coming.”
He wouldn’t get there in time.
The door slammed open and the phone dropped from her fingers. She turned, the perfume hidden behind her back.
“Making me angry isn’t fucking smart, Aspen.” He inched forward, suddenly looking ten times taller than the last time she’d seen him. “After you broke up with me, I tried to give you a chance to make things right. You chose not to. Then you left. Made me search for you.Bigmistake.”
Her back hit the dresser. A couple more steps and he’d be within touching distance.
“Youhurt me, Dylan. You broke us! How was I supposed to stay?”
“I did those things because you made meangry. You pushed me to do all that, just like you pushed me to search for you.”
He was serious. He really blamedherfor his actions.
He moved so quickly, she didn’t have time to run. He wrapped his fingers around her neck and squeezed, lifting her up until only her toes touched the floor. “You don’tfuckingleave me.Isay when we’re done.”
Air… She needed…air.
She swung her arm around and sprayed the perfume into his eyes.
He howled and dropped her, her body hitting the floor hard. She gasped for air, grabbing at her throat. She wanted to stay exactly where she was. Breathe. Recover. But she forced herself to get up and run. She got three steps in before Dylan’s large body landed on top of hers. Her head hit the floorboards hard, and black dots danced in her vision.
He flipped her over. His eyes were half closed, red and watery, as he blinked rapidly. “You’re going to pay for that, whore!”
He swung his arm back, but she moved her head just in time. His fist hit the floor, and she swung a knee up between his legs. He cried out, and she rolled away.
She was just pushing to her feet when a gunshot rang through the room.
She screamed and looked up to see Luke in the doorway. Blood trickled down the side of his head, and he swayed on his feet. Her gaze shifted to the gun in his hand, then back to Dylan.
“Hands up,” Luke shouted, his words almost slurred.
God, he looked a step away from passing out.
“Backup is on the way,” he shouted, but his eyes were half closed.
She turned back to see Dylan pushing to his feet. He was only up for a second when Luke swayed again, this time the hand with the gun lowering slightly as he grabbed the doorframe to steady himself.
Dylan took off, sprinting forward and shoving Luke to the floor as he ran.
