One Millhaven Lane by Bliss Addison Read Free Book Online

as her fingers fell downward. The door popped open. Fresh, cool air tumbled inside. She lunged across the threshold seconds before the knife carved her calf. Blood, warming then cooling, soaked her sleeve and pant leg. She bit the inside of her cheek and held her breath against the excruciating aches in her limbs. Wait. She exhaled. Something was wrong. Where'd her attacker go? What was he waiting for? Why didn't he kill her? It's what he came here to do. Pain besieged her then. She closed her eyes to the descending darkness. Blessed oblivion.
    Seconds later, or minutes perhaps, she opened her eyes. Something was in her line of vision. Boots. She'd recognize them anywhere, anytime. "Please don't kill me, Nate. I forgive you."
    "Shh. Don't talk. Save your energy. You lost a lot of blood, but you're going to be okay."
    "I'm going to be okay? Really?" If Nate thought so, then it must be true. Strong arms, Nate's arms, lifted her from the floor and carried her down the stairs. "Where are you taking me?"
    "To the hospital. You need stitches." Nate placed her in the backseat of the squad car so gently she barely experienced additional pain. She didn't understand the reason for Nate driving her to hospital. "Why don't you call an ambulance?" Her words came out slurred.
    "ETA is a half hour. All available emergency vehicles have been routed to a bus and tractor-trailer accident on I-90. Transporting you myself seems a sensible solution."
    "Yeah." Satisfied with his response, she settled back against the seat. Amid the blast of the police siren and Nate's curses at motorists who hesitated to clear a path, they arrived at the hospital. She helped him as best she could to get her from the back seat. He insisted on carrying her.
    With her in his arms, he burst through the swinging doors leading to the ER.
    "Someone help me here," he yelled. "I need a gurney. This woman's been stabbed and lost a lot of blood."
    Asia could hear the squeak of rubber soles on a polished floor before Nate placed her on something soft. A stretcher, she realized. Someone asked if she was allergic to any medication.
    Nate answered, "No."
    She opened her eyes when Nate patted her hand. "Stay," she said. If she were going to die, she didn't want to go without someone at her side. Wait. Something wasn't right. Where was her mother? She should be here to show her the way. Maybe she wasn't going to ...A voice interrupted her thoughts. She knew that voice. Nate. He was here with her. Good. He should be. This was where he belonged. At her side. Looking out for her. Chasing away the shadows. Keeping her safe.
    "I'll be waiting right here for you, Asia. I won't leave. I promise." He walked along with her, holding her hand until the nurse shooed him to the waiting area.
    Someone whisked her away, then, through more doors and into a room with machines and instruments and a mass of stainless steel. Fingers swabbed her upper arm and she felt a pinprick. Almost instantly, calm replaced her fear. Thank you, Lord. She'd needed something to quiet her nerves. Hands probed her leg and arm. A strong male voice said, "A quarter inch to the left and a half-inch deeper and she wouldn't have been so lucky."
    She was going to be okay. The wounds were not serious. No major arteries had been nicked. She thanked God and relaxed against the cool sheet. A second or two later, she drifted off to sleep.
    It's peaceful here, this place...where am I? I'm not alone. Someone is here with me. Hello? ... Why won't you answer? Wait, something's coming at me from behind. Metal...I see the glint of metal. A knife.
    "No! Please don't hurt me."
    Run, Asia.
    Who said that?
    Run or he'll kill you.
    I'm trying but my legs won't move.
    Try harder . You can do it, sweetheart.
    Daddy? Is that you? It's been so long. I miss you. Will you hold me? I'm scared, Daddy. I don't want to die.
    "Nurse, keep her still, please."
    That voice. I don't recognize it.
    "Who are you?"
    "The seamstress," the voice