Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 546(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Someone needs to fix that.
I catalog that in my thoughts as something I need to tell my father about, but right now, I have a bigger issue.
Like how to stop Dane and get him to talk to me. The man is a ticking time bomb, and it scares me to think of him in such a dark place.
From the corner of my eye, I notice the concrete ledge that runs along the side of the parking lot. It’s not that high up, only a step up, but it will do the trick.
I jump up, and the heels on my ankle boots make a hammering sound.
Dane turns to face me, and I bat my lashes at him, hoping my antics will make him smile like it has in the past.
The man is a born protector. I see it every day from the way he plays hockey, how he took care of Molly, and how he never lets me walk on a ledge without his support.
This has to work.
“Josephine, I’m not in the mood.”
Not Hellfire. I’m not Hellfire anymore.
“No, clearly you’re not. But you need to talk to someone. Anyone. You can talk to me. Everyone needs help sometimes.” To make my point clearer, I raise my hands to my sides for balance. “Everyone needs support. We can support each other, Dane. Let me in. Let me help you walk the tightrope.”
I place one foot in front of the other and wait for him to stand beside me. To offer me his arm.
He doesn’t. He doesn’t even budge.
“Walk the tightrope with me, Dane.” I take another step. His eyes are still hollow, dark obsidian holes. “Let me in.”
Another step.
Motionless, he stands.
A statue.
A fortress I can’t penetrate.
Another inch, and then another.
My upper body wobbles as I try to steady myself.
He’ll reach out.
He always does.
Give him time. Help him break through the hurt that has him rooted in place.
One more step and my heel gets lodged, forcing my upper body to pitch forward.
He’ll reach out.
He’ll catch me.
But he doesn’t.
64
DANE
A scream pierces the air.
Time stands still. Everything happens exactly how they say it does in a movie. You see the moment of impact, but it can’t be stopped.
That’s how it feels as I watch Josephine careen to the ground. Her arms flail as she tries to regain her balance.
The ledge, which is only about two feet off the ground on one side of the concrete pavement, is actually higher on the other side, and that’s the side where her body is falling.
In the dark, she couldn’t see that the parking lot of the arena slopes back there. I thrust my arm out, trying desperately to stop her fall, but I’m too far away. My stubborn ass couldn’t give an inch.
Gravity always wins.
How stupid could I have been? How could I not protect her?
Because I’m a selfish asshole who put myself first.
So lost in my brain that I didn’t reach out.
But I can’t think about that now. I can hate myself for failing her later. Right now, I need to get her.
A sickening thud echoes in my ears.
She’s slipped through my grasp. I’m too late.
I dash over to where she’s lying on the opposite side of the ledge. Carefully, I step over it and move to where Josephine is on the ground.
Bile collects in my mouth.
On the other side, golden-brown hair fans across the dark ground. I slip down, coming to her side. This close, I can see patches of hair are growing darker . . .
Blood.
“Josephine!” My voice is urgent.
My heart drops to my stomach as I notice a puddle of blood pooling beneath her head. Even though it’s dark out, the streetlamp illuminates the night enough to see a stark contrast against her pale skin.
“Josephine, wake up.” I place a finger on her neck.
Thank fuck. A pulse.
“Please, open your eyes.” My voice trembles. “Hellfire.”
I pull out my phone, hands trembling as I do, and fumble to dial 911.
My breath comes out in short, ragged breaths.
“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”
“My—my . . .” My voice cracks.
“Sir?”
“My friend, she fell and hit her head. I need an ambulance. I-I’m at Lancaster Arena.”
“What’s your location at the arena?”
“In the parking lot. The player parking lot,” I say quickly, never lifting my gaze from Josephine.
“I’m sending an ambulance right now. Sir, can you tell me what happened?”
“She hit her head on the concrete.”
“Is she conscious?”
“She’s unconscious, and there’s a lot of blood.”
“Are you able to put something clean on the wound?”
“Yes.” I unzip my jacket and pull it off, then look for where the blood is coming from. Without moving her, I place the jacket where the bleeding originates, making sure to apply pressure, hopefully to stop it.
“God, Hellfire. I’m so sorry. I need you to wake up. You have to wake up. I can’t lose you.”
With each second that passes, my heart pounds in my chest. It feels like it might explode.