Johnny & I : The Island by Daria Paus (hardest books to read txt) 📕

I cringed away and the firm grip of my arm tightened. Both of them laughed. The blond, Garrett, strolled over to where Johnny was lying and placed a well-aimed kick to his stomach. "Get the fuck up."

Breath caught in my throat from the sudden shock, and I tried to yank my arm free as my body automatically tried to get to him. Garrett placed a few more kicks, and let out a string of loud curses as Johnny remained motionless. I clawed at the man’s hand with my free hand. He grabbed my other arm as well, pulling both of them abruptly behind my back. "Don't hurt him." Desperation laced my voice, and I was sure they found it amusing.

“Just trying to wake him up, aren’t I, Sean?"

So that was his name. Sean. I hated it already. The sudden anger that rushed through me surprised me, and before I could control myself, I snapped. "You shouldn't have knocked him out if you wanted him awake."

"She has a temper, too. Hot,” Garrett sneered.

"Creep," I muttered, but decided to keep quiet. I didn't want to get hit again.

The blond crouched next to Johnny and grabbed a handful of his hair to lift his head. Fresh blood leaked from the reopened wound, trailing down his cheek and over his lips, before dripping down onto the floor. "Fuck it, Sean, did you have to hit so hard. I don't wanna wait." He threw a meaning look my way as he said it, and I shuddered.

"I swear I didn't," Sean defended himself. Garrett snorted, letting go of his grip with a shove. I watched through tear filled eyes as Johnny's head fell back to the floor with a thud. Then I looked away. I couldn't stand to see them hurting him.

That's when I heard it, and I looked back at Johnny, just in time to see him start to move.

"About time." Garrett grabbed Johnny's arm to pull him up. He blinked as if trying to focus, squinting at the man hovering above him, and then it seemed to dawn on him.

His eyes shot open only to narrow again. "Get your hand off of me." He yanked his arm free and tried to sit. It was obvious even from where I stood that he was struggling.

"Too slow," Garrett snarled, aiming another shoe toward Johnny. I screamed, hoping to warn him, but it was too late. With a low moan, he sunk back to the floor, doubled over.

"Stop it!" I shrieked, seeing the creep about to land another kick. "Don't hurt him. Please.”

"Shut up!” Drops of spit flew from his mouth as he yelled.

I ignored him. "Johnny," I called out. "Get away from him, come on!"

My shouting didn't seem to have any effect, and the desperation grew as the blond once again hovered over Johnny who was struggling to catch his breath.

"Hey!" I yelled. "Garrett!" The words I chose weren't pretty but they had the effect I’d hoped for. Garrett’s eyes burned with anger and his lips pressed into a tight line as he strode toward me. The curses that poured from his lips made my pitiful attempt at bad-mouthing him seem silly in comparison. At least he left Johnny alone, and in my peripheral view, I saw him struggle to his feet.

"I should’ve drowned you when I had the chance." Garrett was inches from my face, teeth bared in a snarl. “Fucking bitch.”

Before I had time to mentally prepare for it, his fist slammed into my chin, making my head snap to its side from the blow. I could taste fresh blood in my mouth and tears came to my eyes.

A loud ringing noise filled my ears, and black dots danced before my eyes. Somewhere around me, I heard the sickening sounds of fists colliding with flesh. The thuds and curses seemed to spin around my head. I felt someone briefly touch my cheek, then my world turned black.

17

The Fight

The first thing I saw as my vision cleared was Garrett with a knife to Johnny's throat. “Fucking coward. Hitting a girl?” Johnny growled.

Garrett let out a snort. “Hypocrite." He laughed a humorless laugh. "Fucking celebs, think you can get away with anything. All you need is money and a pretty face; it makes me sick." He spat each word out.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Johnny seemed confused, but I knew.

“Think.” Garrett gestured toward me. "How would you feel if I fuck your girl, huh?" He tightened the grip of the knife, pressing it a little closer to Johnny's skin. "You wouldn't want that now would you, asshole."

As if to demonstrate his friend's words, Sean pressed his dirty lips against mine, and I tried to move away but he held me too tight. The stench from his breath almost made me vomit. I gagged, groaned, squirmed, and finally, he stepped back. A twisted grin played on Garrett’s lips—a grin that made me fear that this was not the last thing he had planned for me. My stomach churned and I struggled to hold back the tears. I didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"Don't touch her.” I heard the desperation in Johnny’s voice, how badly he wished he could save me. "Please."

Sean laughed and Garrett joined in. "Why the fuck not?"

I glanced over at Johnny.

"Let her go." He sounded exhausted, and the look he gave me was filled with sadness. "She hasn't done anything to you." I could see the pain he was trying to hold back. I hadn't known him for long, but it was those little signs I’d learned to recognize. How his eyes became shinier, how his lips pressed together a little bit tighter, or how his jawline seemed even more well-defined with the tension of biting back emotions.

"Neither had Nancy, but that didn't stop you," Garrett said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Hearing her name, Johnny's eyes widened and he finally understood.

He knew as well as I did that neither of the