Page 112 of Shadows of Obsession

Jaxon staggered to his feet, chest heaving as he rushed to my side. His hands were trembling as he reached for me, carefully peeling the tape from my mouth. The adhesive pulled at my skin, sharp and stinging, making me cry out when it tugged at the injured side of my face.

As he peeled it away, I saw his expression change, saw the color drain from his face as he took in the full extent of the damage. His jaw clenched, and his fingers ghosted over my cheekbone, feather-light, though even that gentle touch made me wince.

"Your face," he breathed, anguish clear in his voice. His eyes were wide with horror as they traced the swelling and bruising. "Anna,your face—"

"I'm okay," I managed, even though my entire face throbbed with every word, even though I could feel the swelling distorting my features, could taste the blood where I'd bitten my cheek. "I'm okay. Just untie me. Please."

"I'm here, baby. You're okay." His voice was rough, shaking, and I saw the tears glinting in his eyes as his fingers fumbled with the knots binding me, working faster despite the tremor in his hands.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he worked to free me, the fibers biting into his already scraped and bleeding fingers. I wanted to tell him to slow down, to be careful, but no words came, just broken sobs I couldn't contain.

The moment the last of the ropes fell away, I collapsed into his arms. My entire body shook uncontrollably with tremors I couldn't stop no matter how hard I tried. I clung to him, trying to bury my face in the crook of his neck, but the pressure against my injured cheek made me gasp in pain.

I was safe. He was safe. We were both safe.

Jaxon held me tight, his arms wrapped around me like a shield, like he could protect me from the world. Yet even in his panic, he was careful, mindful of my injuries as he adjusted his hold. One hand cradled the back of my head while he whispered reassurances, words I couldn't quite make out over the roaring in my ears and the ragged rhythm of my own breathing.

But I felt them. Felt the care in every syllable, the relief, the fear that mirrored my own.

The sudden sound of splintering wood made me flinch violently against him. The front door burst open with a resounding bang, echoing through the cabin. Armed officers flooded in, their heavy boots thudding against the floorboards, weapons drawn as they took control of the scene.

"Police! Hands where we can see them!"

Jaxon instinctively pulled me closer, angling his body to shield me from the chaos. I felt him tense, every muscle going rigid, as his eyes tracked the officers sweeping the room.

"I’m Jaxon Mercer," he called out, his voice steady despite everything. "I'm the one who called. The suspect is down. He's unconscious."

The officers moved with practiced efficiency—swift, controlled, precise. Two of them converged on Isaac's motionless form, roughly pulling his arms behind his back and securing them with metal handcuffs that clicked closed with finality. The sound made me shudder with relief, knowing he couldn't hurt us now.

Another pair of officers hurried to Jared, whom I'd almost forgotten was still there. They cut through his restraints with a small knife, the ropes falling away as he slumped forward with a groan of pain.

I should have felt something for him. Pity, maybe, or anger. But all I felt was numb exhaustion and the throbbing ache radiating from my face.

The room buzzed with activity, the air thick with tension and the crackle of police radios. Officers moved around us, voices overlapping in a cacophony of commands and clipped exchanges. The flash of cameras illuminated the room in harsh bursts, each one making my head pound harder as they documented our nightmare.

"Ma'am, are you injured? Do you need medical attention?"

I tried to nod, but the motion sent pain lancing through my skull. I pressed a trembling hand to my face, feeling the heat and swelling beneath my palm.

"She needs medical attention," Jaxon said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Her face—and she was unconscious from whatever they drugged her with. She needs to be checked for a concussion."

"Paramedics are outside," the officer said, his expression softening as he took in my condition. "Let's get you both looked at."

In the midst of it all, we moved together slowly, and I couldn't stop crying. The tears burned as they tracked down my injured face, making the pain worse, but I couldn't stop them. My slender frame shook with silent sobs as the weight of everything crashed over me in relentless waves.

Jaxon kept one arm around me, supporting most of my weight as we made our way outside, murmuring words of comfort and love. When I finally looked up at him, I saw his own eyes glistening with unshed tears, the lump in his throat visible as he swallowed hard.

"You came," I whispered, my voice hoarse and broken, slurred slightly from the swelling. "You came for me."

"Always," he breathed, pressing his forehead gently to the uninjured side of mine. "I'll always come for you, Anna."

Outside, the paramedics descended on us immediately. One guided me to sit on the back of the ambulance while another examined Jaxon a few feet away.

"Ma'am, I'm Sarah. Can you tell me what happened to your face?"

"Slammed into a wall," I managed, each word an effort. "Then they drugged me. I don't know with what."

Her gloved fingers probed carefully at my cheekbone and forehead, and I had to bite back a cry at even that gentle touch.