Page 2 of Jagged Burn (Kidds Beach Fire Department #2)

Knight In Shining Whatever

Anna Alexander, Five Minutes Earlier

“Matt.” My voice is broken as another sob wracks my entire body.

“Calm down,” he says. “Tell me where you are.”

I try to breathe through the tears but it’s a struggle even though I know I need to talk to him. It takes me a moment before I can finally get the words out.

“One three one nine Blake Street.” I’m not sure he heard or understood me. Until he replies.

“Listen carefully. Lock yourself in the bathroom.” I can hear him moving in the background, soft music filtering through, and I briefly wonder where he is. “We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Sitting on the cold tile floor as I wait for my big brother to come and rescue me, I take stock of my life as it lies in shambles beneath me.

When I met Sam, I thought I had met my happily ever after.

He was handsome, charismatic, and attentive.

I should have known better. I have always had shitty taste in men.

From liars to cheaters and even one who stole my money.

I thought my luck had changed but I quickly found out just how wrong I was.

It was only three months into this year-long nightmare when he first laid hands on me.

And no, it wasn’t some kinky experiment.

We were having a disagreement about how one of his friends had touched my ass when the slap landed on my cheek.

I was honestly so damn stunned, I didn’t even react.

As women, we all like to think we will walk out the moment a man hits us.

Let me tell you, that isn’t the truth for everyone.

I stayed, believing his sincere lies as he groveled for my forgiveness. Not once, many times.

Stupidity is what my mother would call it.

Weakness is the word others would use. Codependence is the word I find suits me best. By the time I realized I was secluded, it was too late.

I no longer had contact with any of my friends, I rarely spoke to my brother, I had quit my job because he made enough money and wanted me home.

There was nowhere to turn and no one I could ask for help.

I was well and truly fucked. The worst part—it was all my own doing.

I hear shouting from the front of the house, and I know Matt has arrived. I hope he beats the ever-loving shit out of Sam. Logically, I know he can’t. It would be career suicide, and I would never want that for him. But it doesn’t stop me from fantasizing about it.

A knock sounds on the door. “Anna? Open up. It’s me.”

Relief and trepidation hit me at the same time.

I knew the moment I called him he would come for me.

All I wanted to do was get away from Sam.

So much that I didn’t consider the ramifications of my actions.

How will he react when he sees me? How will I explain the fact that I have been in town for almost a month, and I haven’t even sent him a text?

Fuck, fuck, fuckitty, fuck. This is going to be bad.

“Anna?”

“I’m coming,” I say softly.

It takes me a moment to lift my bruised body and trampled ego off the tile floor before I make my way to the door. I thought this was the best thing, calling my big brother, but I think I made a mistake. One I can’t take back now.

I unlock the door and pull down on the lever handle, allowing it to swing back. The moment he sees me, visible rage courses through him and I know I only have a split-second to say something before everything goes to hell.

“Can we leave, please?”

A tear tracks down my cheek and all I want to do is fall into my brother’s arms, but I stay standing. He isn’t having any of that, though, and scoops me up. Well, at least if he has to hold me, he won’t be able to get physical with Sam.

That thought only lasts a moment as I feel my weight being passed over to someone else.

“Jesus, Annie,” a low voice says above me, and my entire body stiffens.

Not him. Anyone but him.