Page 134 of Fire Island
“I promised her she would be safe on this island. That the thing haunting her would not draw a second breath if it everstepped foot on this floating fucking rock. Guess that means you.”
“Plea—”
I slam a fist into his face. His head lolls to one side. He’s out cold.
Well, fuck. That was too damn easy.
Footsteps crash toward me, rustling the forest alive as they approach. Reese bursts through a layer of bushes, breathing heavily.
Hell.
“You should have stayed on the beach. Waited for Em.” I push to my feet as his gaze drops to the scrawny unconscious guy at my feet. “He ain’t dead yet. Watch him. I’m going to find Evie.”
“We’ll be right here,” Reese says, stepping closer to the limp body on the ground.
I make my way to the fishing hut. The small rustic structure my family spent happy, sunshine filled days in. The point our school holidays orbited around as kids. Now it’s been reduced to this tarnished scenario by some fucker who doesn’t belong here.
The hut comes into view. I hesitate, leaning on a tree to listen.
The sounds I can hear I can’t make out.
I move closer, watching every step I take. Evie’s whimpers drift through the forest and into my ears, and I file my molars down. Hands flexing into fists, I shift for a better view, and heat spills through my veins at what I see.
Lying on the filthy floor, she trembles. The guy pinning her there sends a blade over one breast, a fine line of blood welling up behind it.
The ringing in my ears drowns out every one of my senses.
That limit, the one every man has when it comes to the people he loves—I just smashed right the way through it. Thefucking wrecking ball is still swinging, crashing into my sense of self-preservation...
My world, mere feet away.
Myeverythingto lose.
Unable to control another thing, I rush to the hut, flying through the doorway.
He looks up, knife still on her chest.
I tackle him, sending him toppling backward, slamming into the floor. One knee sunk into his gut, I slam my fist into his face. His round moon face jerks as my knuckles crash down, strike after strike.
A small little sob spills from behind me.
I glance back. Evie is sitting up, wrapping her ripped shirt around her body. Tears streak her face. I hold her gaze for a moment, letting my heart see she’s okay.
“Cal!”
My shoulder burns, bursting with pain. Something thuds up the side of my head. Stars flood my vision. I turn back, but it’s too late. He grabs my throat. Dropping my gaze to the knife stuck in my shoulder, I growl, the sound squeezing through his grip.
His face is bloodied, his nose leaks, and his left eye is busted. The scowl on his face cracks his injuries further, and blood flows freely. “You know what happens to fucking heroes?” He seethes.
I hang in his grip as he rises to his feet. My hands hang by my sides.
I feel the floor behind me, hoping to find the knife.
Soft fingers meet mine, placing the knife in my hand as she moves closer in my peripheral. I fling the weapon round, aiming for his thigh.
He kicks the knife from my hand.
His knee slams into my chest.
