Hanging On (Jessica Brodie Diaries #2)(29)

William circled with him, keeping between the two of us.

“How’d you find us?”

“Weren’t hard. I followed you a-ways. You done took forever in that rich man’s dance club. I knew you’d try to get her alone, though. I saw you puttin’ all them blankets ‘n crap in the trunk. Patience is a virtue, friend. Now, cut the crap and give her here. All I’m gonna do is have a lil’ fun with her, take what’s mine, and I’ll give her back. No harm, like. I’ll even be gentle.”

My hands were shaking as I gripped William’s shirt. This wasn’t happening to me. It wasn’t happening. Not again.

I focused on what Dr. George taught me about relaxation and focusing my thoughts away from the shadow places. Trouble was, I was also supposed to focus on the here and now, and that wouldn’t work.

I switched to Lump’s advice. I cleared my mind and prepared for the worst. What attacks might I use? What might I do? Focus on breathing. Focus on the goal. Accept what comes but look for an out. Strike when you can.

“No f**kin’ way, man. No f**kin’ way. You gotta go through me. That’s the only way this thing’s gonna play.” William used a voice I’d never heard before. It was primal and animalistic. If I was Dusty, I would be thinking twice about this.

Dusty pretended like he was thinking it over. “Well, that’d be a longer sentence for sure. Especially with your daddy’s lawyers. Might just be worth it, though. Only, I won’t be so easy with her that way.”

Dusty shot one bullet in the air. I screamed and stumbled backward. William clutched me tighter, allowing Dusty no vantage point hit me.

“Oooooo weee. She is all dressed up n’ everythin’!” he hollered. “Now, I did see her earlier, but it was from a distance. She is lookin’ good!”

Rough hands grabbed me from behind, ripping me away from William and throwing me into the dirt. I screamed as William whipped around, a fist already on route to his face. William staggered slightly but not off balance. He kicked a foot out, connecting with the guy’s knee.

I was grabbed again as a sickening crack wrenched the air, the guy’s knee bent sideways. A cold gun pressed against my head as the other guy screamed, a kick to his head silencing him. William whirled, a silverback gorilla ready for the oncoming attack for his woman, as I was dragged across the clearing by Dusty,

I flailed, trying to find purchase in heels, but he was too strong. He had a gun to my head and I had no foothold, now unfortunately protecting Dusty from William with my body. The cold steel pushed harder against my head. William and I both froze at the same time.

“You didn’t figure me smart enough to bring a friend, huh? I figured there were enough pu**y to go around. This slut loves to spread her legs.” Dusty tightened his grip on my throat and reached his hand down to massage the gun against my breast. The panic welled up inside me. I started to cry silently.

William’s face was pure rage. Primal fury that went beyond thought or reason. Behind that, though, was a crippling vulnerability. The utter helplessness of me in danger, and him not knowing how to save me. He was resolute—he would die to protect me, he just didn’t know how.

Dusty laughed in a foul wheeze. “Does our hero wanna watch? Does he want to watch as I stick my prick into her over and over and over again?” He gyrated as he said it, his hard, disgusting c**k rubbing against me.

Dusty stopped, thinking. He put the gun back to my temple. “Now, how’m I gonna get my honey potter wit’ you always in my way?” Dusty asked William, starting to think logically. “I need more time then you’ll give me, partner.” He rubbed the gun against his head in a thinking motion. “I guess I just gotta shoot ya after all.” He laughed again and struck out the gun.

All regard for himself gone, William tensed to make a final grab at me before a bullet hit him. The scene slowed down. Or, more realistically, my thoughts sped up as more adrenaline pumped into my brain.

I would be the reason my Golden God died. That perfect beauty would be snuffed because of me. Then I would just get raped anyway. Probably killed because why not? He had already killed one, why not two? Why leave an alibi? There was no way out for me.

But there was a way I could save William.

“STOP!” I screamed. “I’ll do it! I’ll give you what you want. Just don’t hurt him.”

Why did they never paint the women in the stories as the heroes, when we had to make decisions like this? Charging a bullet never seemed easier.

It was this moment that I realized the great cosmos really did have it in for me. Nice joke f**kers! But guess what? I’m not playing this game. Not this time. I will not get shit on this time.

With that thought my calm bubble emerged. Dr. George had said this bubble was my crisis center. It directed me when the normal functioning center of my brain was locked in panic. He explained it more technically, but it was here, in this moment, for survival.

“William, just get in the car and drive away. Come back for me in an hour. I assume an hour will be long enough?” I said snidely to Dusty.

“More’n enough time to get both holes.”

A shiver crawled up my spine. As soon as William left I would do everything in my power to kill this bastard, probably getting shot in the process. If I failed, then he could rape me after my light shut off, but I would go down fighting. Fuck him. I would not be a victim if I could help it. I also didn’t know if I had the courage to pick up my life if I lived. I didn’t know if I was that strong.