Before we can say anything else, there's more pounding on the door.
"Emmett, open the fucking door.” It’s Pierre.
My blood runs cold.
"Maybe I should …" Collette starts toward the door.
Emmett and I brace against each other, this is not going to be pretty. Collette opens the door, and Pierre storms in, his face is red with anger, his eyes are wild. Before anyone can say anything, before I can even process what's happening, Pierre pulls back his fist and punches Emmett.
The sound is sickening. Flesh on flesh. Bone on bone.
And I watch in slow motion as Emmett goes down. Hard. His head hits the floor hard, unable to stop himself due to his arm being in a sling.
"Emmett!” I scream.
His eyes are closed, and he’s not moving.
“What have you done?” I scream at my brother.
"What the fuck, Pierre!" Collette shouts.
"He deserved it," Pierre snarls.
"His arm is in a sling!" I'm crying now. "Emmett, please. Wake up."
Felix appears in the doorway, with Issy and Harper behind him. They all freeze when they see Emmett on the floor.
"Jesus Christ, Pierre," Felix breathes.
"What did you do?" Issy gasps.
"What I should have done the moment I saw those fucking photos," Pierre says.
I round on him, fury replacing fear. "You punched him? He’s out cold. You could have fucking killed him.” I start punching my brother. “He was defenseless because of his shoulder. You fucking asshole. How could you? I hate you. If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive you. Do you hear me, never!”
Felix hauls me off my brother.
“What have I done?” Reality settles in for Pierre as Emmett stays sprawled out on the apartment floor.
"Get out!" I scream. "Get out of his apartment!"
"Not until we talk about this," Pierre starts.
"Talk?" I say, getting up into Pierre's face. "You just knocked him unconscious, and you want to talk?"
"He's been seeing you behind my back for who the fuck knows how long."
“I love him!” The words rip out of me. "I love him, Pierre! And you just …" I can't even finish as I turn back to Emmett and drop to my knees, he’s still not moving.
"Jo …" Harper starts.
"Don't." I check Emmett's pulse. It's there. Strong. He's breathing. But he's out cold. "Just don't."
There's noise in the hallway, and suddenly Sully appears in the doorway. He must have his own key as he bursts through the door, and behind him are Bouch, Fish, Nelly, and Evan.
They all stop when they see the scene, Emmett on the floor not moving. Me crying. Pierre standing there with his fists still clenched.
"What the fuck happened?" Sully asks.
