“You fucking bitch!” he screamed. His fist swung out, making contact with my temple. The world flickered around me.

And then there was nothing but blackness.

49

Crosby

I pulled to a stop in front of Kenna’s guest house. The late-afternoon sun seemed to make the whole estate glow with a golden hue. And now it was all Kenna’s. Forever. I hoped that knowledge gave her some peace. But most of all, I hoped she’d let me back into that world of hers.

I picked up the bouquet of brightly colored blooms that rested on the seat next to me. I hadn’t spoiled Kenna the way I should’ve, taking her on dates and making gestures both big and small that let her know she was on my mind. That changed now.

I climbed out of my truck and headed for her door. I forced myself to keep my grip on the stems light when nerves had my hand wanting to snap them in two, just for a sense of relief. It didn’t matter if Kenna was hesitant to believe me at first, I’d just wait her out, proving that I was here to stay.

I stepped up onto the front porch and froze. The door was open just an inch or two. “Kenna,” I called.

No answer.

My heart rate picked up speed as I slowly pushed the door open another few inches. “Kenna?” Maybe she’d made a run over to the main house with some of her belongings? I glanced over my shoulder but saw no signs of life over there.

Screw it. Kenna could yell at me later for invading her privacy, but I needed to know that she was okay. I pushed the door open all the way, stepping over the threshold and instantly halted in my tracks. The space was a mess. Chairs overturned. Random items thrown about.

My gaze caught on something on the floor. No. This wasn’t happening. My chest convulsed in a painful squeeze as I crossed the room in three long strides, the flowers in my hand falling to the floor.

“Kenna!” I knelt next to her fallen form, hands hovering over her crumpled body. God, no. I pulled her hair away from her face and sucked in a sharp breath. Her cheek was swelling, and there were tears in the skin. My hand shook as I pressed two fingers to the side of her neck. The steady thump against my fingertips had air expelling from my lungs on a whoosh.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed three numbers.

“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”

My voice remained remarkably calm as if it didn’t belong at all to the man whose insides were currently being shredded by fear and pain. “My girlfriend. I just got to her house, and she’s been attacked. She’s unconscious, but her pulse is strong.”