Page 185 of Secret Obsession
He comes to his knees. I leap onto his back and wrap my arm around his throat, and I finally get a good look at Miles.
His face hasn’t been ruined by a bullet. He’s on his side, staring up at us.
But then the man seems to get it together, and he grabs at my wrist.
I let out a scream and bring my other hand around, squeezing my eyes shut. I drag the blade across his throat. It hurts. My grip is all wrong, and the blade bumps in my hand as it catches on something.
His windpipe?
Hot blood coats my hand and the arm still around him. He lets out a gurgle noise.
Oh my god.
I release him and shove off his back, falling to my ass behind him. All I can do is stare at the blood pouring onto the concrete in front of him.
I just killed him.
Or—well—he’sdying.
Miles staggers up and takes my hands, helping me to my feet.
“You okay?” he yells.
I touch his jaw. “I’m fine.”
“What?”
There’s blood in his ear. Shit. Did the gun go off right next to his head?
“We need to go.” I yank on his hand.
He follows right behind me, only pausing to lift the knife from my trembling hand. He folds the bloodied blade and sticks it back in his pocket, and we race out of the basement. He slams the door shut behind us, as if to keep the horrors from following us.
Fat lot of good that will do.
He pulls out a phone—not his own—and dials. He hits the speaker button. “I can’t hear shit,” he says in a too-loud voice.
“Miles?” Knox’s voice.
My gut sours, and bile rushes up my throat.
“It’s Willow. And you better give the phone to someone else before I hang up.”
“I’m here,” Violet interrupts. “Are you okay?”
“Miles got me out.” I reach over and take his hand. “We’re okay.”
He comes closer automatically, wrapping his arms around me. My head fits perfectly tucked under his chin, and he surrounds me better than a security blanket. Because he’s alive, and his hands coast over my skin like he’s making sure I’m really here, too.
“Where are you guys?”
“Grey and Steele are on their way,” Violet says softly. “He told me and Aspen to stay with Knox, just in case he tried to do something else…”
I press my lips together.
“They’ll be there soon. Hang tight, okay?”
“Okay,” I whisper.
