Page 13 of Jade

“Got the wind knocked out of me,” Gus tells us. “I’m fine, but my shoulder hurts like a bitch. Could have a broken collarbone.”

“Sit tight,” Dustin says calmly. “Ambulances are on the way.”

When Gus tries to stand, Dustin gives him a menacing look. “Don’t let me call your daughter now, buddy.”

He puffs air out of his cheeks and holds onto his shoulder as I comfort Burt, who’s now whining but not injured.

“It’s okay, Burtie, baby,” I soothe. “Your papa is fine; he’s as strong as an ox.”

Gus smiles at me, and I have to hold back the tears forming in my eyes because he’s hurt. It could’ve been a lot worse.

“I’m good,” he says, stroking Burt’s head. “Can’t say much for the assholes who got taken down. Nice work, you two.”

“Oh, you saw that?” Dustin asks, glancing around on high alert.

“Sure did. One of those madmen hit that tree pretty hard.”

“Stay here with Gus and Burt. I’m gonna go see if anyone else needs help.” Dustin says to me.

“I’m fine.” Gus waves him off, but I’m not leaving his side.

“Got it,” I reply, then add, “Be careful.”

He nods. “The cops are almost here.”

He’s right—the sirens are getting louder now.

I watch him retreat all the while thinking how close I was to being run down myself.

Not only is Dustin my secret crush and my fake boyfriend, but now he’s my savior, too.

CHAPTER 6

DUSTIN

I’ve always been good in chaotic situations. Don’t ask me how.

Tilly is okay, and so are Gus and Burt. Everyone is okay.

I only hope that’s true because the chaos surrounding me spills out onto the street. The sheriff’s vehicle pulls up along with several others, then paramedics flood the scene.

I help a mother and child, along with a teenager who is badly injured, with blood oozing from his knee. I’m praying there are no fatalities, but the Crows are a bunch of heathens, and they came to cause destruction.

“D?” I holler to Diamond as I run past her with the kid in my arms. “Your dad was injured. He’s with Jade by the pavilion.” I nod behind me. “He’s fine, just shaken up. He may have a few broken bones. Burt is okay.”

“Holy shit!” she exclaims, her face paling. “I didn’t know he was coming tonight. He never told me.”

The town gossip has been going wild that Deidre, who works at the local bakery, and Gus are secretly dating, but they think they’re being super low-key. “I didn’t see Deidre,” I say, now wondering whether she’s okay.

“She’s out of town,” Diamond tells me. Relief floods me at that news. Diamond takes off. When I drop the kid at the ambulance, after making sure he’s all right, I turn back to find Tilly. She’s where I left her, holding a little girl’s hand, bent down and talking to her. It looks like the kid is lost. Nash and Diamond help Gus toward the ambulance on the street. That’s when Tilly notices me through the crowd. “Dusty!” she calls, waving at me.

I jog over to her, looking at the little girl. “Hey, sweetheart.”

She shies into Tilly’s hip, her eyes red-rimmed. “This is Jolie. I know her mom. They got separated in the commotion. We’re going to go find her.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I meet my girl's eyes and mouth, “Are you okay?”