He takes advantage of my shock, and forces his knee between my thighs. His other hand wraps around my throat, squeezing.
No. No, no, no.
Adrenaline explodes in my chest. I fight back with everything I’ve got. Scratching, kicking, clawing at any part of him I can reach. He grunts, trying to keep me pinned down.
His grip slips for a moment, and it’s just long enough. Isuck in a breath and scream as loud as I can.
“Lina!” he shouts, his voice suddenly laced with panic. “Lina, stop!”
Like hell I will. But something seems wrong. The voice doesn’t sound like Joe anymore, but I keep fighting, blinded by fear. I’m not falling for any tricks. If I can just hold out a little longer, someone will come. I know they will.
“Lina! Wake up!”
That voice…
It’s not Joe. It’sJohnny.
“Lina, honey, wake up! You’re dreaming!”
And just like that, the weight disappears.
I shoot upright, gasping, scrambling back against the safety of the headboard.
Johnny crouches beside my bed, speaking softly, but I can’t make out the words over the roar of my heartbeat.
I scan the room.
No Joe.
No monster.
Just Johnny.
And Axel, standing in the bathroom doorway, the light behind him casting shadows over his face.
His expression… it’s pure devastation.
I shut my eyes and force myself to breathe.In and out. In and out.
Johnny’s voice slowly filters back in. “That’s it, honey. Keep breathing. You’re safe. Axel and I are here. Nothing’s going to hurt you.”
Gradually, my lungs start to work again. My heartbeat slows. I open my eyes and meet Johnny’s. His gaze is steady, calm.Fierce in the way that makes me feel protected.
“There she is,” he murmurs.
He brings my hand to his lips and presses a featherlight kiss to the back of it. I’m out of it, but It’s not lost on me that my body and my mind is accepting of the touch. He continues stroking the back of it gently with his thumb.
It’s such a kind, human gesture, it makes my eyes sting all over again.
He starts to pull away, but I grip his hand tighter, not wanting him to go. He gets the message and sits on the edge of my bed.
I lick my dry lips, “What happened?” My voice is hoarse. I wonder how loudly I was screaming and for how long.
Johnny squeezes my hand. “Axel heard you yelling. He ran in and saw you having a nightmare. When he couldn’t get you to wake up, he came to get me.”
I run my free hand over my face. I’m so mortified that I can’t bear to look at them.
“I need to pee.”
