“I saw him kissing you,” Eddie says, his voice almost wistful. “A few weeks ago. Right here in this very room.” He shakes his head. “What do you see in him, Ashlyn? Why him and not me?”
Maybe because you’re a psychotic lunatic, I think, but I know better than to say it out loud.
“I don’t… I don’t know you, Eddie,” I say carefully.
“Well, duh,” he scoffs, laughing like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “That’s why we’re having dinner.”
He gestures to the table, his expression expectant.
“Sit. I’m starving.”
Ben
My heart poundsas I silently follow Nash and the two officers into the school. Once we’re inside, I hand Nash my access pass so he can unlock the security door, then motion for him to head straight down the hallway and take a left. He nods, signaling for us to follow.
As we approach Ash’s classroom, muffled voices drift toward us. Nash glances over his shoulder and lifts a hand, silently ordering me to stay put. Every instinct screams at me to ignore him, but I force myself to comply. I need Ash out of here safely. I have to trust that he knows what he’s doing.
Nash and the officers stop outside the door, weapons drawn. He peers through the small window at the top, his jaw tightening. For a second, his gaze meets mine, and then he gives the signal.
One of the officers throws the door open and Nash moves in fast.
“What the fuck?” Eddie shouts.
A scuffle breaks out with chairs scraping against the floor, and then–
“Drop the knife!” Nash yells.
My blood runs cold. A knife. Eddie has a knife.
I inch forward, pressing myself against the wall beside the door. Peering around the frame, my breath catches in my throat.
Eddie has Ash. His arm is locked around her, the blade pressed to her neck.
“Drop it,” Nash commands, his voice steady but firm. “This won’t end well for you, Eddie. Let her go.”
Ash sobs, and my chest tightens. There’s blood on her face, and she’s holding her arm awkwardly. I feel useless standing here while that bastard holds her hostage. I want her safe and in my arms.
“Don’t come any closer!” Eddie screams, his grip tightening on Ash. “I swear to God, I’ll do it! I’ll slit her throat!”
“Okay, okay,” Nash says, trying to diffuse the situation. “No one is coming any closer.”
He signals for the two officers to lower their weapons. Nash keeps his gun trained on Eddie while the others step back slightly. It’s a delicate situation, and as much as I want Ash out of his grasp, the last thing I want is for her to get hurt any more than she already has.
“Look, we’ve backed off,” Nash says, his voice calm and measured. “Now lower the knife and let Ashlyn go. You’re hurting her, Eddie, and I don’t think that’s what you wanted, right?”
“I love her!” Eddie cries, his grip tightening. “Why would I hurt her? If she’d just agreed to have dinner with me, none of this would be happening!”
“Just let her go, Eddie. It’s over,” Nash urges.
“It’s over when I say it’s over,” Eddie snaps, his voice low and unsteady. “I can make her happy. Happier than that asshole she’s dating. I just need her to see that.”
“And you think this is the way?” Nash counters. “Look at her, Eddie. She’s terrified.”
I steal a glance at Ash. Her face is pale and streaked with tears. My chest physically hurts as I look at her. She’s petrified. This has to end now, but if I move, I’ll only make things worse.
“She’s not scared of me,” Eddie insists. His fingers flex around the knife handle. “Are you, Ashlyn?”
He presses the tip of the blade into her skin. She whimpers as it cuts, a thin line of blood trickling down her neck.
