Johnny & I : The Island Daria Paus (fun books to read for adults txt) 📖

creeps would believe him, but he said it anyway. "It's all lies, I didn't do a goddamn thing to her."

They both snorted. "Fucking liar." I saw Garett tighten the hold of the knife before I heard Johnny hiss. A thin line of red appeared on his throat.

"Say it! Say what you did."

“No.”

"Just fucking say it."

"Fuck off," Johnny growled. "I did nothing wrong.”

I wanted to help him, to bring my opinion into the mix, but it wouldn't help. They’d think I was taking his side, which of course I was. But unlike them, I knew Johnny was telling the truth.

Garrett leaned in and growled in Johnny's ear. “She did the right thing, taking it to the press. The world deserves to know what a piece of shit you are."

Johnny flinched, as if the words hurt him physically. Then he closed his eyes, and I could see his chest rise and fall from deep breaths. When he opened them again, that blank look I’d seen on his face when I'd arrived, was back.

No, I mentally begged. Don't give up. 

"What do you want from me?" The defeat in his voice made me want to cry.

A sick grin appeared on Garrett's face. "I want you to admit what you did to my girl, and then I'm gonna do the same to yours," he said. Garrett laughed, satisfied to see the shock written on Johnny's face.

I met his eyes as he looked back at me, and I could see the panic in them just as clear as he must’ve seen it in mine. He looked away and I was sure he blamed himself for what was happening to me.

"She made it all up," Johnny tried again.

"That's not what she said."

"The bitch is fucking lying.”

A gasp flew from my mouth seconds before the fist slammed into Johnny's jaw. I closed my eyes, as if not seeing it would make it less real.

"Let her go.” Johnny said. "Do whatever you want with me, just—"

My eyes flew open. I stared at him.

“Not her, please,” he begged. "She has nothing to do with this."

Garrett laughed.

"No," I breathed. "Johnny!”

He looked at me, silently shaking his head.

"No!" I yelled. "I have!” I wasn't sure where I was going with this, but I couldn't stand the fact that he seemed to be sacrificing his own life—to save mine.

"Bree." His voice was just a whisper. "Get out of here, first chance you get."

Before I had time to react, the creep hit him again and he staggered, falling against the wall. I screamed.

"Don't try to be some fucking hero."

"He didn't do it," I yelled. It was pointless, but I couldn't stay silent.

Garrett was in my face in a flash, pinching my jaw between two dirty fingers. "If you don't shut your mouth,” he growled. “I’ll fuck you and make him watch."

I cringed, fighting back tears.

"Get away from her." Johnny inched toward me.

Garrett let go of me and pointed the knife at Johnny, who stopped, slowly backing away from him again. My eyes flickered to the fireplace and the tools next to it, and the next time Johnny looked my way, I tried to gesture with my eyes toward the iron. But before he had a chance to even begin to understand what I was asking of him, Garrett snapped. “You can have every fucking girl you want." He stabbed the air as he spoke. "Why would—"

"I didn't touch your fucking whore." Johnny growled, and my eyes widened.

“Son of a bitch." Garrett exploded in rage, grabbing Johnny by the throat, he threw him against the wall. In the same liquid movement, he shoved the knife up against his chest and I screamed. Blood began to seep through his white shirt.

My mouth hung open in shock. I could barely breathe. All I could do was stare at the blood, lightheaded from the sudden bolt of fear that had shot through me. I managed to tear my eyes from the bloodstain to look at his face. He looked dazed. His skin ashen and mouth slightly opened from what I could only assume was the shock.

Garrett’s face was so close to Johnny's he could have kissed him, and every shout coming from him made Johnny flinch.

"You beat her and you raped her, fucking admit it, or I'll kill you right now."

"Do it," Johnny said. "Just fucking end it."

I heard myself scream. No! I kept mumbling frantically. No no no. I didn't realize I was crying until my vision blurred. It was what he’d wanted. But I couldn't help but hope that our time together had made him rethink and what he was saying now was just an act. But it didn't matter. Act or not, that knife was seconds away from going into his chest. He wouldn't survive that, especially not when we were stranded far away from civilization.

"Please," I cried. "Don't." I wasn't sure who I was pleading with, but when my eyes locked on Johnny, I knew. He was frightened. Breaths coming in short gasps, head leaned back against the wall, and eyes closed in what could only be a silent prayer to spare his life.

"You think you're a goddamn God, don't you? Every girl's dream. You're nothing, not even Nancy wanted you." Garrett continued to shout and I knew it was only a matter of seconds before he’d snap.

My arms ached and my pulse throbbed in my temples. I kicked at Sean’s legs, but the only reward was a string of curses and rotten breaths on my neck. I began to scream, begging him, and he shut me up with his dirty hand against my mouth. I bit down on the hand and didn't let go. He screamed. The hand holding both of mine behind my back suddenly let go as it moved to pry my teeth off of his damaged hand. For a few seconds I didn't know what to do with my newfound freedom—then I ran.

I grabbed the fire-iron and charged toward Garrett, swinging it against his skull. It landed with a sickening