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“Our mothers have been estranged for years.” I remained still, waiting for the right time to buck her off me. Since I couldn’t run, I had to make sure I was close enough to the lamp so I could smash it over her head.
Becky leaned forward and pressed the blade of the knife against my throat, then licked my cheek. “You taste like white trash.”
“I am white trash, bitch. Tell me something I don’t know,” I snarled. She was really pissing me off. “What the hell do you want?”
“Leave. I don’t care if you can walk or not. Leave by tomorrow and don’t ever contact Holden again. If you do ...” With a lethal glint in her eyes, she applied pressure to the knife, and I yelped as it pierced my skin.
“Why? Why am I such a threat to you?” I realized I should shut up, but apparently, the pain meds had me chattering away even when my life depended on me not saying another goddamned word.
“Because he cares about you, and I’m not going to lose my chance at marrying the wealthiest bachelor in the Pacific Northwest. He’s mine, so take your sob story somewhere else.” She leaned down, her breath tickling my ear as she spoke. “Don’t ever repeat what I’m about to tell you. The Alastair family … Holden’s family isn’t who they say they are. You need to leave. I’m sorry I hurt you, but this has to look legit.”
Alarmed by her words, I froze. “What do you mean?” My body betrayed me and trembled beneath her.
Before Becky could continue, a movement caught the corner of my eye, and I tensed, preparing to punch her as soon as her attention left me.
“Becky, get the fuck off her right now.” Holden’s deep voice roared through the room.
Becky gasped and looked at Holden, the knife slipping from my neck. In one quick move, I hit her in the jaw, and she reeled backward, then onto the floor.
Holden took two long strides and stepped on her wrist with his bare foot. “Drop the knife.”
Becky whimpered as she released it. “You’re sick, Holden. You need therapy. She’s trash and everyone knows she’s not your cousin. For God’s sake, you only met her today. Why are you protecting her?”
Those were excellent questions that I would love the answers to as well.
“Because she has something that you never will.” He ground out the response, his jaw tightening.
I peered at Becky, who had tears streaming down her cheeks. If she wasn’t careful, she would cry those fake eyelashes off.
“What’s that?” she asked, hiccupping through her sobs.
“A heart.” Holden knelt and collected my knife. “Get out. You’re not welcome here anymore. No one threatens River’s life and gets away with it. If I ever find out that you’ve talked to her again, you’ll regret it.” Holden lifted his foot and moved next to the bed, shielding me from her.
Becky scrambled off the floor and glowered at us. “This isn’t over.” With that, she stomped out of the room and down the hall.
Unanswered questions spun around in my head like leaves on a blustery day. Dammit. I didn’t understand what Becky had tried to tell me.
“Are you okay?” Holden asked. “Dammit! Your neck is bleeding.”
What the fuck? I swiped at my nicked skin, my fingers shining with a sticky crimson. “That bitch is crazy.” Whatever she’d tried to tell me hadn’t justified her actions. As far as I was concerned, Holden had been nothing but kind to me, and Becky was trying to mess with my head. At first, I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, that her attacking me was an act, but you don’t cut someone for no reason unless you’re fucked up.
“I’m really sorry, River. I had no idea she would come unhinged and threaten you. I need to make sure she leaves the house and property, though. I’ll be right back.”
Holden hurried out of the bedroom, and I sat up on the edge of the bed, wide awake. The last thing I wanted to do was bleed on the beautiful bedding. I used the nightstand to balance on and slid off the mattress, my good foot landing on the plushest carpet my little piggies had ever felt in their nineteen years.
Becky’s screech echoed through the house along with a loud crash, confirming my earlier thoughts that she wasn’t stable. Dammit, if I’d had crutches, I could see what was going on. Hell, I could have beaten her ass with one if they’d been next to me.
“Hey, are you all right?” Brynn said from the doorway. Jace’s head popped up over hers.
“I hate to ask, but I need to get to the bathroom.” I despised depending on people, and it was even harder to plead for help.
“This is silly. I’ll find the crutches. I think they’re in the kitchen. I realize Holden loves carrying you around, but you need to be able to get around without him.” Brynn shook her head. “And cousin, my ass. Tell Holden no one believed him after the way he looked at you all night.”
I could literally feel the color drain from my cheeks. “What do you mean?”
“Uh-oh.” She peered up at Jace. “Would you get the crutches for River? I think I just said the wrong thing, and I should stay with her. She’s pretty pale.”
I sank onto the mattress again, my head woozy.
