Barely Breathing (The Breathing #2)(172)

"Don't worry about it," Jonathan returned cockily. "As I said, this has nothing to do with you."

Jonathan's arrogance was grating under Evan's skin, and the taught muscles along his arms made it evident.

"Evan, I can explain," I interjected passionately.

"I'd rather hear it from him," he replied coolly, making my stomach flip.

Jonathan produced a snide grin. "You really want to torture yourself, huh? Just let it be. I'm not taking her away from you or anything."

"Then what is it? What is it about you that makes her want to tell you things she can't tell me?"

Jonathan shrugged dismissively. "I get her in a way you never will. It's not your fault. You just don't understand. And I do."

Evan's shoulders drew back as if the words were razor sharp.

I knew Jonathan was walking along a dangerous line, but neither of them would listen to me. I couldn't keep him from pushing Evan over the edge.

"Jonathan, knock it off," I threatened without effect.

"I'm there for her when the nightmares wake her in the middle of the night. I'm the one she calls when she needs someone to confide in about Rachel. She reveals the secrets you can't handle because she trusts me. And she knows I will always be here to protect her."

I screamed out in surprise as Evan's fist collided with Jonathan's jaw, knocking Jonathan back a few steps. I quickly sidestepped him as he stumbled for balance.

"You don't know anything about protecting her," Evan seethed. Jonathan straightened, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. A streak of blood stained his skin.

In a sudden movement, Jonathan charged Evan, ramming him against the wall. The house shook around us, vehemently protesting the attack.

"Don't!" I yelled, rushing toward them. The violent exchange mounted as they grappled and threw each other around the foyer. Guttural groans escaped with each punch thrown. Blood spattered their faces.

I couldn't find a way to get between them. Their movements were so quick. They were incognizant of my presence, and I could easily have been swept up in the brawl. I begged for them to stop over and over again, but they showed no signs of relenting.

My entire body shook as I shuffled around them, desperate for their attention. My cheeks were slick with tears as I fought to breathe. Each punch thrust directly into me, bludgeoning my heart.

I knew I'd done this. I'd created the tension between them that had erupted into this moment. Their anger and frustration had nothing to do with the person they were fighting. It had everything to do with me, and what I couldn't give them. Which was all of me. I felt my insides implode with the collision of their weight against the rumbling walls.

I caught a glimpse of Evan's face and drew in a sharp breath at the sight of the gash above his right eye, blood trailing down his face. I couldn't stand to remain inept anymore.

"Jonathan, don't!" I commanded loudly, grabbing for his arm. Impervious to my presence, he jabbed his elbow back and collided with my jaw, sending me sailing back. Unable to keep my balance, I collapsed with a cry.

Evan redirected his attention to my stunned face just as I landed on the floor. "Emma!"

The distraction left him open to a vicious blow to the temple.

"No!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the house. Evan's eyes left me and tilted back as his head lolled to the side like a ragdoll. He crashed against the wall and Jonathan pinned him upright, catapulting a ferocious blow to the side of his face.



       
         
       
        

I scrambled to my feet, driven by the adrenaline that accelerated through me. I squeezed in front of Evan and closed my eyes, bracing for the pain of his crushing fist. My whole body tensed, pressed against Evan's slouched form.

Nothing happened.

Evan started to slide and I quickly turned toward him, attempting to ease him to the floor. But his dead weight was too much for me to support, and he toppled over with a reverberating thump, his head bouncing against the wood.

I collapsed beside him, my chest shook with jagged breaths. "Evan!" I bent over him to examine his bruised and bloodied face. "Evan, can you hear me?"

I tried to reposition him, sliding him from his awkward angle against the wall, struggling to turn him on his back.

"Let me take a look," Jonathan said from beside me. He bent down and grabbed Evan's shoulders to lay him flat.

"Don't touch him!" I shouted, bowing over Evan's body as if to shield him. "You don't get to touch him!"

"Emma." His voice sounded pained. He placed his hand on my back. I thrust against him forcefully, causing him pull away with a jerk.