Best of 2017

“I know that none of this would have happened if I had just trusted that you would understand,” I murmured. “This shouldn’t have been an issue.” The tears I had held back finally gave way. “I embarrassed you in front of your friends.”

Axel shook his head. “You don’t need to worry about them. They’ve seen a lot more drama than that.”

“I don’t want them to ever doubt my love for you. I don’t want you to ever doubt my love, either.”

“That’s a tough one,” he murmured in a voice so quiet I almost didn’t hear him. But I did, and the tears fell faster.

“You cared about me once,” I said as I wiped at my moist face. “Maybe you could learn to care about me again—someday?” I sounded like a little girl desperate for affection and I hated it, but I needed Axel. I wanted Axel. Not just because he made me feel appreciated and cared for, but because when I was in his arms, I felt complete. And I loved Axel and hoped our love deserved another chance.

“I didn’t stop caring about you. I’ll always care about you and want what’s best for you.”

“You are what is best for me.”

Axel shook his head. “I wish I could say I one hundred percent believed that. Because you stole my heart the day I saw you in the club.” He smiled a bit. “But that was… like a dream, Quinn. We lived this fast and furious love affair that maybe was always bound to come crashing down.”

“Don’t say that,” I pleaded. “Don’t give up on us. Please.”

“I think I’m just facing reality.”

“Do you love me enough to stay with me?” I asked as more tears slid down my face.

“I love you. I have since I met you. The whole issue with this book and Harrison reminded me that you still have a life in San Francisco. You still plan on going back and building your career. As much as I want to be selfish and just take you in my arms, make love to you and promise you everything will be all right, I can’t. I know that long-distance relationships don’t work out.”

“I decided long ago, long before this whole mess, that I was staying here… with you,” I cried.

Axel looked moved by my admission and slowly pulled me close to his chest. I closed my eyes for a brief moment as I felt a whisper of a touch on my face as he began to dab at my tears with the pads of his warm, gentle fingertips.

“I think you need to move back,” he said in a hushed voice as I opened my eyes and stared at him in shock. “I can’t do this.”

In one swift motion, Axel turned around and walked back in the club without saying another word, leaving me standing there stunned.

What the fuck just happened?

We were so close.

So close.

And just as I was about to crumble to my knees and give up on everything, a sound from the depths of hell occurred.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

FUCKING JILLIAN

QUINN

“YOU DON’T KNOW who you fucking messed with!” I jumped at the wicked declaration suddenly right behind me. I turned around to see Jillian standing with a knife pointed in my direction. Her dilated eyes revealed an evil inside. Drugs, alcohol, hatred, and a weapon made a deadly mix. My heart stopped as Jillian charged.

My head whipped back from the force of the blow. Blood shot from the corner of my mouth as Jillian’s knuckles made contact with my lower lip. The evil in her eyes shone in the dim light of the parking lot. The stench of her breath only added to the demon-like figure before me.

Swiping my fingertips over my mouth, I struggled to my feet, but Jillian was suddenly on top of me, her fishnet-clad thighs straddling my chest, pinning me to the cold asphalt below. I tried not to focus on the crazed face looming over me. Her face showed a fury that made me realize she would indeed try to kill me. She was too far gone to stop in her attack.

I had knocked the knife out of Jillian’s hand when she unexpectedly lunged at me. But the knife remained within my reach. If only I could stretch out my arm and—

“Stop fighting me, bitch! I’m going to show you what happens when you mess with me. Do you know who I am? How dare you punch me in the club! You’ll pay for that now!”

I blocked the pummel of hands, feeling Jillian’s skin beneath my nails as I clawed at her face. I let out a scream even though no one would hear. The music in the club was too loud. No one was there to save me. I had no choice but to save myself.

Jillian grunted, beads of sweat dripping off her forehead. I could feel Jillian’s strength weakening. Hope washed over me. I could still fight her off. I just needed to outlast her power. Stamina and sobriety could save my life.

Jillian was breathing hard, her scrawny body heaving from each jagged pant. She had me trapped on the cold ground, but I knew I had a chance to break free as Jillian’s energy faded. I struggled to draw air into my lungs, but Jillian’s weight on my stomach almost suffocated me. I couldn’t wrestle out from her hold, let alone take a breath. My own energy faded just as fast. I sucked in much-needed oxygen, refusing to look at Jillian’s disgusting face only inches from my own as she continued to punch at my head. From the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of silver.

Her knife. I needed to reach her knife.

Reach for the knife.

I forced myself to be brave. I took a calming breath to steady my nerves. I breathed evenly through my nose, slowly counting to five. I could do this. I had to do this. I had to fight back, or Jillian would kill me.

Before Jillian could react, my hand reached out, fingers connecting with the silver handle of the knife. When Jillian realized what I was doing, she lunged for the blade. But she wasn’t fast enough. Her eyes bulged in shock just as I stuck the blade into her upper arm.

Jillian screamed as she glanced down at her bloody arm in horror. Her dark eyes flashed with rage as she knocked the knife out of my hand, sending it flying across the ground. Jillian grabbed a hold of my neck and squeezed with a renewed, superhuman strength. Struggling for air, I realized I was going to die by Jillian’s hand. I had missed my chance.

AXEL

MY CHEST FELT heavy as I walked back into the club. The realization that Quinn had probably left by now made my throat tighten, but knowing I was the one who’d turned my back on her hurt even more.

Go to her.

Those three words repeated over and over again in my mind, screamed from my soul.

I walked halfway to the VIP area when I finally couldn’t stand it anymore. I had to see if Quinn was still out there. Maybe she hadn’t left yet. Maybe I still had the chance to make things right. I needed to make it right.

I threw open the back door and froze in place, panic rising in my body as I watched the scene before me. With a burst of rage, I charged toward Quinn. She lay flat on her back, with Jillian on top of her, choking the life right out of her.

Suddenly Quinn snapped into a state of alertness, landing a nasty punch to Jillian’s jaw. Quinn reached to grab a jagged rock near her hand, crashing it down on the side of Jillian’s head. The blow sent her into unconsciousness and she collapsed on top of Quinn.

The silence deafening, I surged toward Quinn. “God, Quinn! Are you okay?” I pulled her from under Jillian’s body.

QUINN

THE SOUND of Axel’s voice brought tears to my eyes. He was here! Help… a miracle… Axel was here.

Almost instantly, my entire body began to shake. My breath came out in ragged gasps. Air. I needed air. Jillian was dead! I killed someone! I took another’s life!

“I’m here, Quinn. Everything’s going to be okay.” I felt Axel’s hand on my forearm. Blinking with confusion, I looked down and saw that my bloody hand still gripped the rock.

“I killed her! Oh my god!”

Axel placed his hand on Jillian’s throat and checked for a pulse. “No. She’s alive.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed 911. In a hurry, he explained the situation to dispatch and demanded they send the police and ambulance.

“It’s okay, Quinn. You were defending

yourself.” The soft reassurance of his voice soothed me. I loosened my grip on the rock and let it fall to the ground.