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My hands tightened into fists behind my back. “What did she ever do to you?” I snapped, anger getting the better of me.

“Well, for one,” Jessica held up a single finger as if to tick off the reasons. “She never liked me, and I’m almost positive that’s why those assholes dumped me. Two, she means a lot to them, and if I hurt her, then I hurt them. And three…” She dropped her hand and shrugged. “That about sums it up. If I want to teach them a lesson to never hurt women like us again—and I’m not sure why you’re not thanking me right now—then they need something that will hurt them to the core, like they did me when they strung me along.”

Oh. Fuck.

Damn that third glass of wine. If I hadn’t chugged the last few gulps, then maybe I could’ve formed a decent plan. Scratch that, a plan in general, because as I stood there, heart hammering and sweat dripping down my spine, I had nothing. Zilch. Zero ideas on how to get me and Jubie out of this mess.

“Jessica,” I pleaded, “you don’t want to do this. You don’t want to hurt an innocent dog.” I shifted around the couch, putting myself only a couple of feet away from her and Jubie. “She didn’t hurt you. They did.”

“But hurting her will cause them pain and delightful suffering, so that makes things even. Then maybe I’ll feel better, get over all this anger and hurt festering inside me.” She jabbed a finger at her chest, tears filling her lower lids. “I’m just so angry with them, and they deserve what’s coming to them for making me feel this way.”

“Hurting Jubie won’t make you less angry with them and their actions. I think you know that.”

With an exaggerated, frustrated groan, she narrowed her eyes at me and reached behind her. I blinked in surprise at the large Buck knife, shiny steel blade already out, that was now in her tight grip. She flipped it around, rotating the handle without nicking her fingers with the sharp blade, proving she knew her way around a knife.

Great.

Because I for sure did not know my way around any type of weapon, nor was I armed with one, not even my fucking phone.

Damnit.

A low buzz sounded in my ears as I weighed my options, heart racing so fast my breaths came in quick, short pants like I’d just run a mile instead of standing still, watching some crazy lady validate her plan to hurt Jubie.

No.

I couldn’t let her cause Jubie any more harm than she’d already inflicted. Jubie was… innocent, perfect, slobbery happiness wrapped in a whole lot of fur, and absolutely everything to Miles. Miles was everything to Aiden, and those two had, in just over a week, become everything to me. I wouldn’t let this loon cause them more pain, not when they’d both been through enough trauma in the past. And the fact that they had done nothing wrong. She might feel like they lied and used her, but I knew Miles and Aiden wouldn’t do that. It wasn’t who they were.

Jessica was angry and volatile because they didn’t want something long term. But that was life; that was dating and putting yourself out there.

Maybe it was the third glass of wine talking, but… no matter what happened next, I knew I would do anything to keep Jubie safe. That made more sense than doing nothing and allowing Jessica to cause Jubie or the guys pain. Plus, if Jubie was injured or worse while I stood and did nothing to stop it, that just might destroy me anyway.

So, I made a plan… ish.

How that would play out, only time would tell.

And I had a feeling I wouldn’t have to wait long.

33

ASPEN

With a dramatic sigh, Jessica tapped the side of the blade against her jean-covered thigh. “Fine, if you’re not leaving, you can help me. Doing it here works better, actually. Letting them find her.” She slid her crazy eyes to Jubie, her brows furrowed. “Not really sure how to do this, so I guess I just…” Raising the knife, she made a stabbing motion and nodded. “Seems simple enough.”

Barely breathing through the fear squeezing my lungs, I stepped closer, both hands raised, palms out. “Please don’t do this,” I pleaded. Hot, unshed tears burned behind my eyes.

“I have to. This is how men like them learn. I’ve taught others in the past, though this might be my best lesson yet.”Oh wow.Squatting beside Jubie, she balanced on the balls of her feet. “If you won’t help, then don’t get in the way. I don’t want to hurt you while I do what has to be done, but I will.”

And there it was.

The line in the sand.

“No,” I rasped, voice barely more than a whisper. “I won’t let you do this, Jessica. Jubie didn’t hurt you. I’m begging you, don’t do this. Walk away.”

She tossed her long hair over one shoulder to look up at me with a malicious grin. “I don’t think so, Aspen. It’s too late for her and them.”

But it wasn’t.

Because I was here to stop it, no matter what.