Page 88 of Saving the Rockstar

I shook my head, the tears still streaming down my cheeks. "Jared," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. "Jared, I..."

In an instant, he was at my side, gathering me into his arms and holding me close, as if he could shield me from the world with the strength of his embrace alone.

"Shh," he soothed, rocking me gently back and forth. "It's okay, Ash. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. You're safe now, baby. I promise."

I clung to him like a lifeline, like he was the only thing keeping me tethered to reality. And in a way, he was.

I took a deep, shuddering breath, letting Jared's strength, his love, fill me up from the inside out. And then, slowly, I pulled back, meeting his gaze with a watery smile.

"I'm okay," I whispered, reaching up to cup his cheek with a shaking hand. "I'm okay, Jared. Because you saved me, in every way a person can be saved."

He shook his head, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "No, Ash. You saved yourself. You're the strongest, bravest person I know. I'm just lucky to be along for the ride."

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could speak, a flash of movement caught my eye.

Carter was lunging towards me, something bright and sharp clutched in his fist. He had a knife, and he was coming straight for me, his face twisted with hatred and rage.

"If I can't have you," he snarled, his voice barely human in its fury, "then no one can. You're mine, Asher. You'll always be mine."

I screamed, the sound tearing from my throat like a wounded animal. But Jared was already moving.

He threw himself between me and Carter, his body a shield, a barrier against the deadly blade. They collided with a sickening thud, grappling and straining against each other as they fought for control of the knife.

I watched in horror as they crashed into furniture, knocking over lamps and shattering vases. The knife flashed inthe dim light, slicing through the air with terrifying speed and precision.

For a moment, it seemed like Jared would prevail. He had Carter pinned, the knife inches from his throat, his face set in a mask of grim determination.

But then Carter twisted, bucking his hips and throwing Jared off balance. The knife slipped from his grasp, clattering to the floor. Carter dove for it, his fingers closing around the hilt with a triumphant snarl.

"No!" I screamed, my heart seizing in my chest. I couldn't lose Jared, not now, not like this.

Without thinking, I lunged forward, my hand scrabbling for something, anything, to use as a weapon. My fingers closed around the base of a heavy brass lamp, and I swung it with all my strength, bringing it down on Carter's head with a sickening crack.

He crumpled to the ground, the knife falling from his limp fingers. For a moment, I just stood there, panting, staring at his motionless form in shock and disbelief.

I had done it. I had saved Jared, had saved myself. I had faced my deepest, darkest fear and come out the other side, battered and bruised but unbroken.

And then Jared was there, gathering me into his arms once more, his body shaking with relief.

"Asher," he breathed, burying his face in my hair. "Oh god, Asher. I thought I was going to lose you."

Slowly, reluctantly, I pulled back from his embrace, needing to see his face, to reassure myself that he was really here, really okay. But as my eyes met his, as I took in the pallor of his skin and the pain in his gaze, my heart stopped.

"Jared?" I whispered, my voice trembling. "What's wrong?"

He tried to smile, tried to reassure me, but it came out as more of a grimace. "It's nothing, Ash. Just a scratch."

But even as he spoke, his hand drifted to his abdomen, pressing against the dark, spreading stain on his shirt. When he pulled his fingers away, they were slick with blood.

"No," I breathed, my eyes widening in horror. "No, no. Jared, you're hurt."

He shook his head, trying to downplay it, but I could see the truth in the tightness around his eyes, the way his breathing had gone shallow and labored.

"It's okay, Ash," he said again, but his words were slurring, his eyelids fluttering. "I'm okay. I'm..."

And then, before I could even react, his knees buckled and he collapsed, crumpling to the ground beside Carter's motionless form.

"Jared!" I screamed, dropping to my knees beside him, my hands hovering uselessly over his still, silent body. "Please, don't do this. Don't leave me."

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