Page 44 of Sudden Summer

“I don’t fucking want that,” the man growled, grabbing my bag and throwing it clear across my living room. I scrambled to my feet as he inched his way closer to me, his fingers curling into fists.

He was going to hit me.

And if he did, I might not wake up. What would he do to me then?

Fuck.

I turned, doing the only thing I could think of—I kicked my foot out, catching him right in the balls as I tried to get to the kitchen. I knew right where my knife block was. If I could just grab one in time, I might be able to defend myself against whoever the hell this was.

But just as I got my feet under me, my left foot caught on the edge of the area rug. It was enough to trip me, my ankle throbbing as I fell to the floor again. I crawled, my fingernails feeling like they might rip off with how hard I was trying to get any traction against the floor.

His menacing laughter followed me as I pulled myself toward the wall. My wrist burned as I grabbed onto the door frame leading from the living room to the kitchen. I didn’t care if it was sprained or broken, it wasn’t going to be the reason I didn’t make it out of my house alive today. I’d crawl, I’d fight until the end if I had to.

My shaking hand slipped into my pocket as I listened to his steps grow closer. All I had to do was hit one button after I unlocked my phone. One single button and Beau would know I was in trouble. He’d get help. He’d get to me.

“You thought you held all the power, didn’t you? You thought you’d teach me a lesson?” His hand tightened around my ponytail, wrenching it backward. I felt the pull deep in my scalp and tried to scream, but his hand was pressing against my mouth again, suffocating me. Once more, I was being shoved to the ground, only this time I knew the truth. This time I could feel the cold, awful reality seeping deep into my bones.

I wasn’t going to make it back to the ranch.

I’d never get to hug my sister, or go to family dinner, or try one last time to make things better with my mom.

I wasn’t going to see Beau or Juniper ever again.

I’d never kiss him again. Or have sex with him. I’d never marry the love of my life. I’d never have his last name, or get to try to have his baby…

I dropped my phone as I reached back to stop the assault on my hair, the screen cracking into a million tiny webs as soon as the corner hit the tile. A screen that showed Beau trying to call me. I was desperate to reach out, to scream for help. I knew he would help me.

But it was too far away. He was too far away. The deep hum of an engine stopped outside my house, and I knew I needed to scream for help. The neighbor—or whoever the hell was out there—was my only hope.

I scratched at the fabric covering his arms as his hands threaded around my neck. I needed to be smart. There needed to be evidence. If I was going to die, I was going to leave something, anything I could for the deputies to find.

“You’re a fucking bitch.” His arm yanked me up off the ground, squeezing my throat harder. I felt him so close to my face, his breath radiated heat onto my ear. “This isn’t over.”

He tossed me to the ground, my tears falling as he ran out the back door.

Beau

“Oh, Juniper, it’s okay. Shh,” I soothed as I bounced the baby in my arms. My daughter was pissed this morning, and I couldn’t figure out why. She’d been unsettled since the middle of the night, but this was a new level of hysterics. I needed the sun to come up, and I needed it to come up now.

I’d done everything Birdie said. Fed her. Checked her diaper. We laid skin to skin. I’d swaddled her. Burped her. Sang to her. I’d even tried to call Birdie a few times to see what the hell it could be, but she hadn’t answered.

Nothing was working.

And now, with the sun creeping up over the field behind our house, I knew I was going to miss another day of ranch duties.

I pressed my thumb to unlock my phone, bringing up Birdie’s number before I hit the button to call her.

Over and over the ring sounded out—shrill and cold—until her voicemail picked up.

“Hey, baby. Can you just let me know everything’s okay when you get a chance? I know you should have been heading back out here by now. I’m just worried something might have happened. Call me back or just drop me a message, okay?”

I hung up, bringing up my text messages with Hayes. I was starting to get worried.

Any accidents this morning?

Nope. It wasn’t a bad shift. Bus got dispatched for a guy having a heart attack, but we weren’t on scene for that.

Okay.