He chuckles like he’s joking, but I can also hear the tenseness in his voice. Hockey was always my dad’s main focus, at least before Easton and I were born. But he always had a third child, and that was the sport. He’s not mad, but I can tell he’s not happy either.
“Yeah, there’s something going on with Rae.” I turn the wheel without slowing down, hardly even caring if my car skids on the fresh snow that’s hitting the ground.
Suddenly, his concern shifts. “What about Rae?”
I hear my mom in the background, I think she says Rae’s name, and there’s shuffling, but I’m too focused on the road and getting to her to listen closely.
“I don’t know, I’m heading to her right now, so is Asher. I’ll call you back later.”
“Asher? Why?—”
I hang up the phone before he can finish whatever he’s going to say because right now is definitely not the time to get into any of that. Not when the love of my life could be in danger.
I remember what she told me about her potential stalker, and I’m driving even faster. Nothing has happened lately that I know about, but I didn’t even know about what was going on for a while either.
I’m sure I break a new record with how quickly I get to Rae’s house. When I pull up, the gate’s already open which is not helping my urgency. Asher’s car is parked in the circular driveway, but so is another one that I don’t immediately recognize.
The front door is open, and I hardly even turn my car off before I’m rushing out toward it. As soon as I’m inside, I call out but already see the image of my nightmares. Asher’s back is to me, and he sees the same thing I do, while I wonder why he hasn’t completely lost his shit on Collins. I notice the knife he’s twirling around and recognize why. Asher may be a professional fighter, but he’s outmatched when there’s a weapon involved.
Even worse, Rae is restrained, her hands behind her, feet bound, mouth gagged, and she has a cut on her head that’s bleeding and it makes me see red.
“Wheeler, so nice of you to join us. I thought we were going to have fun without you.” Collins sounds way too happy right now.
“Collins, what in the actual fuck is going on?”
“You know this psycho?” Asher questions.
“Yeah, he’s a teammate. At least he was.” I glare at him, wondering the best way we could get to him without risking Rae. He’s sitting right next to her. I feel like if we move even aninch, he wouldn’t hesitate to use the blade on her. Clearly, he’s not opposed to hurting her. My eyes go back to the wound on her forehead, and I want to take her into my arms and make sure she’s okay.
Tears stain her cheeks and she’s looking at us with so much fear. I’m not normally violent, but I’m going to kill Collins.
Rae says something, but it’s muffled by the gag in her mouth. Collins reaches his arm around her shoulder, running the blade along her cheek, and Asher starts to storm forward.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Collins threatens, moving the knife to Rae’s throat. I tense, and she starts to cry harder.
Asher’s shoulders move with his heavy breaths. His fists clench and I can only imagine he’s seconds away from completely losing it. If he does, I won’t stop him. My priority is getting Rae safe. There’s two of us, and one of him; I’m sure if we’re smart about this, we can get her out of here.
“What do you want?” I spit at him.
“She’s right here.” He smiles, and it’s the scariest smile I’ve ever seen someone have. His eyes are empty, soulless.
Rae closes her eyes, more tears spilling out and I want to go to her, hold her, make everything okay and have her forget about everything that’s happened.
“Well, she clearly doesn’t want you so let her go and no one has to get hurt,” Asher snaps, clearly losing the minimal patience he’s had up until this point.
Collins laughs, and Rae flinches, which has me about to lose my shit too.
“Nah, I wanted her when she was perfect and innocent but then I find out she’s a whore fucking both of you. I didn’t want her anymore.”
“Great. Then let her go,” I grind out.
“Why? So you can continue to show off your perfect fucking life? Fuck that. You took everything from me, so I’m going to do the same to you.”
“I didn’t take anything, you did that,” I insist.
“You don’t fucking know anything, Wheeler,” he snaps, tightening his grip on Rae, including the way the blade presses into her skin. Both Asher and I don’t hesitate anymore.
We act on pure instinct lunging forward; Asher sends his fist flying toward Collins while I carefully and quickly grab Rae from his grip. Luckily the hit knocked him off guard enough to loosen his grip the smallest bit, so she doesn’t get cut. She collapses in my arms as I pick her up, pulling the gag from her mouth as she sobs.
