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It took me a moment to realize that the voice had come from the other basement door, the one to the house. When I glanced over at the other side of the room, a man was staring at me. He wore a pair of black pants and a white T-shirt. His brown hair was buzzed short, and his mouth hung open in shock.
“Jake,” Emersyn hissed, jumping out of her chair. “How many times do I have to tell you not to come down here when I’m working?”
But Jake didn’t seem to hear what Emersyn said. He still stared at me, his shocked expression quickly morphing into something else. Anger. His jaw hardened, and his nose wrinkled as he rushed toward me.
“You,” he snarled. I barely had time to get up from my chair before he was on me, pushing me up against Emersyn’s pristine bookshelves. She gasped but didn’t have time to stop him. “I’d heard you were back in town, but I thought it was just rumors.”
“Oh, my God, Jake! Get off her!” Emersyn clawed at him, but he didn’t move.
His left arm was locked across my chest, pinning me in place. He hadn’t hurt me, but my heart pumped adrenaline so fast it was hard to tell.
“I can’t believe you’re showing your face here, of all places. What are you trying to do? Get another one of my sisters killed?”
Sister? It clicked into place then. Jake wasn’t a stranger. I’d met him at least once before. The night of the Halloween party when he tried to hit on me and messed with my yarn. He was Delainey’s brother. Which meant he was also Emersyn’s.
The pure rage on his face slipped, softening to a deep anguish that would’ve drawn sympathy from me if he wasn’t assaulting me. “It’s all your fault,” Jake continued, his voice breaking. “I don’t care if you didn’t swing the knife. You knew. You knew what had happened and you didn’t do anything. If you would’ve called the cops right away, she might still be alive. My damn sister could still be alive!”
His words hit me like razor blades thrown at my chest, each one leaving a stinging pain as they sunk into my skin. Tears trickled from the corners of Jake’s eyes, and I felt his pain in my very core.
He opened his mouth again, but before he could get another word out, he was ripped away from me as someone roared, “Get your damn hands off her.”
I stumbled forward as Jake released me. Emersyn reached for me, and I clung to her as Reid shoved Jake back. Jake’s stare was homed on me, the anger and pain a raging storm in his eyes. Reid growled, moving his body between Jake and mine, but that didn’t stop Jake. He lunged toward me again, and Reid planted his feet and punched him right in the face.
Emersyn screamed as Jake collapsed onto the floor.
Blood oozed from Jake’s lip, and he wiped it away with the back of a hand, blinking like he was confused.
“We’re leaving,” Reid said, voice low and heavy as he glanced at Emersyn. “Get him upstairs and away from Lark before I call the cops.”
Emersyn froze, stunned as if she was the one who’d gotten punched. “I-I’m so sorry. He’s never done anything like this. I had no idea—”
“Just go!” Reid ordered.
Emersyn jumped and scurried toward Jake, who was crumpled on the floor, still staring at his bloody hand. “Come on.” She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him to his feet.
I didn’t see whether Emersyn had gotten him up, though, because Reid turned and stepped close to me. His hands cupped my face, his eyes wild and round as he studied me. “Are you hurt?” he asked, his words a rush of concern.
His hands were warm on my skin and despite everything that had happened, my heart fluttered. “No,” I said, though I wasn’t quite sure. Nothing seemed hurt, at least.
His brows furrowed, but he seemed satisfied with that. He pulled me into him, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. Keeping me tucked tight against his body, Reid Ramsey bolted for the door and got me the hell away from Jake Hawthorn.
21
Reid
My hands shook as I pulled up in front of Lark’s house. I threw my old sedan into park and glanced at the passenger seat. She hadn’t said a word since I got her away from that barbarian.
The rage was fresh and hot in my veins as I recalled the moment I saw him pinning her up against that bookcase. She looked so small compared to him, her eyes filled with fear.
I clenched the steering wheel so hard my knuckles ached. Part of me wanted to go back there and punch him again. One good blow didn’t seem good enough. I screwed my eyes shut, trying to settle down. I was no good this on edge. I had to calm myself and make sure Lark was okay.
And I had to keep my mind off what I’d learned in that damn phone call that had taken me away from her in the first place, leaving her vulnerable.
When I opened my eyes, I glanced toward the house. It was completely dark except for the porch light, even though it was only nine o’clock at night.
“Is anyone home?” I asked, breaking the silence.
Lark startled at the sound of my voice, her big eyes blinking over at me. “What?”
