It’s only when I scream at the top of my lungs that Oakley suspends his swings momentarily.

“Stop—” I start to say again, but Stone takes the opportunity to punch Oakley in the head.

I can tell the move takes him by surprise, but he doesn’t let it deter him. He seizes his leg next and begins twisting…

Until he starts violently shaking.

Oh, God.

Three things happen in that moment.

Oakley starts seizing.

Stone picks the knife up off the floor and plunges it into Oakley’s side.

And my brothers walk in.

Chapter 53

Bianca

“What the fuck happened?” Jace barks, rushing over to us.

“Stone has a knife,” I shout before focusing on Oakley who’s still seizing.

Cole looks down at Stone who’s now laying limp and kicks him. “Not a problem. He looks dead.”

The rise and fall of his chest tells me he’s not.

I peer down at the blood soaking Oakley’s shirt. Normally you’re not supposed to touch someone who’s having a seizure, but I have no idea how deep the gash is and I don’t want him to bleed out.

I reach for one of my shirts and place pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.

“What happened?” Jace repeats before his eyes drop to my mouth. “Why the hell is your lip bleeding?”

Ignoring him, I give my undivided attention to Oakley. I wasn’t able to keep track of the time, but it seems longer than usual. “He’s been seizing for a while now.”

“I’ll call 911,” Cole starts to say but then we hear sirens outside my window. “On second thought, it sounds like someone already did.”

“Jesus fucking Christ. Start talking, Bianca,” Jace grunts.

My stomach knots with dread and I inhale a deep breath.

“Long story short, Stone was hiding out in my room. He held a knife up to his throat and threatened to kill himself if I didn’t call Oakley and end things with him. However, right after I did, he put his hand around my throat and punched me.”

“Motherfucker did what?” this from Cole.

“I’m gonna kill him,” Jace seethes, lunging for Stone.

“Hold on,” I snap. “I’m not done.”

Jace and Cole are practically foaming at the mouth.

“Oakley barged in and beat the shit out of him…but then Stone grabbed the knife off the floor and stabbed him…and you guys walked in.”

Relief fills me when Oakley’s seizure finally subsides.

However, a sharp knock on the door makes me jump.

“Police, open up.”

Emotion lodges in my throat as I run my hand over his sleepy face. He’s so out of it my heart can’t take it.

“They’re gonna send him back to jail.” I look at Jace and Cole, imploring them to understand the gravity of the situation. “Oakley was only protecting me. He doesn’t deserve to get in trouble.”

But the police won’t care, because Oakley has a rap sheet and he’s supposed to be keeping his nose clean. In their minds, he’s automatically at fault and guilty as hell.

“Oakley tried to warn me about Stone a few weeks ago,” Cole mutters. “But I didn’t believe him and told him to fuck off.”

This is news to me.

Jace grips the back of his neck. “Goddammit.” Running a hand down his face, he looks at Cole. “You were coming up here with Oakley to see Bianca, okay? You heard commotion outside her dorm room and when you opened the door, Stone and I were already fighting.” Jace looks at me next. “Your part of the story stays the same. Stone assaulted you. Only instead of Oakley beating him up…it was me who did it.”

Cole raises an eyebrow. “What about Oakley getting stabbed?”

Jace shrugs. “He tried to stop the fight when he walked in and Stone stabbed him.”

There’s another sharp knock on the door. “Police. Open up.”

I can’t believe he’s about to take the fall for this. “Jace—”

“Stick to the story.” With that, he punches Stone’s face and sends a sharp kick to his groin. “Let them in.”

I hover over Oakley protectively as Cole opens the door.

“I love you,” I whisper, wishing like hell I hadn’t stopped him from saying it before.

Chapter 54

Bianca

Once I get the go-ahead from a nurse, I sprint toward the hospital room to see Oakley.

Just when I’m about to open the door, someone snaps, “Not so fast,”

When I look up, I see Oakley’s dad standing there with a cup of coffee in his hand. The cross expression on his face makes it clear he’s not happy to see me.

“Hi, Mr. Zelenka.” I give him a terse smile. “I’m just here to check on Oakley.”

The nurse wasn’t able to tell me anything since I’m not family, but she did say he was allowed to have visitors.

I try to open the door again, but Wayne wedges himself in front of it, blocking me from entering. “I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen.”

I blink, not understanding. “Why?”

He looks at me like I’ve sprouted another head. “My son was just stabbed…by your fiancé.”

“Ex-fiancé,” I correct.

And yeah, I understand his concern, but Stone’s out of my life for good.

The only thing that matters now is Oakley.

Wayne’s eyes narrow. “I tried to step back and let Oak make his own decisions, but I’ve had enough of this shit.”

I raise a brow. “Enough of what shit?”

“I don’t know how to make this any clearer, but I want you out of my son’s life.” His hand clutches the coffee cup. “Ever since you two got together, it’s been one tragedy after another. First, he got drunk and high and ended up killing someone, then he chose to go to jail—despite the deal I worked out for him with the DA, and now, he was stabbed by your fiancé for defending you. What else has to happen for you to realize you two are the very definition of toxic and you leave him the hell alone?”

It would hurt less if he slapped me.

I had no idea Oakley chose to go to jail.

That he left me on purpose.

My heart folds in on itself. “I didn’t mean to…” I clear my throat and try again. “Look, I understand why you feel that way, but I love—”

“Maybe I’d believe that were true if you would do the one thing he can’t and walk away.”

My vision blurs as I take in his words.

“I can’t just walk away from him,” I argue. “I love him.”

“Then let him go,” Wayne pleads. “Because Oakley is loyal to a fault, and if you don’t sever ties he’ll keep hanging on with everything he’s got until he either ends up dead or rotting away in a jail cell for the rest of his life because of you.” His features twist in pain. “I can’t lose my son, Bianca. I won’t.”

The raw concern swimming in his eyes nearly brings me to my knees.