Page 108 of Falling for the Enemy

Wisely so.

The alarm continues to wail, the frantic speed at which everyone works increasing. Chaos. It surrounds Manzana as more staff run past me and spill into the room, including a small woman dragging a cart behind her.

“We’re losing her.”

My shoulders tighten, the nurse's rushed words reverberating through my skull, chipping away at the waning lucidity I’m desperately clinging to.

No, we are not fucking losing her.

“Ari!” My legs grow numb as more electrodes are attached to her bare chest. “You will not leave me. You have to fight for us!”

A silent Casper steps up to my side, his fingers laced behind his head as he watches the horror movie playing out before us. Body vibrating with what I assume is a mixture of fear and rage, he looks close to coming unhinged.

Same as I.

“Do you hear me, baby?” I rush forward, stopping at the edge of the bay. I may be close to losing control, but I have enough sense to stay out of the way. “You stay.”

The tendons in my neck cord as I clench my jaw, gritting my back teeth. “If you so much as try to die, I’ll follow you into the fire and drag your little ass back myself.”

The flames of Hell are no match for me.

Hearing dulled by the roar of my heart, along with the static filling my head, I don’t hear the words the doctor shouts, his face red and covered in sweat, the fear of what I’ll do to him if she dies likely plaguing his thoughts.

But I don’t miss the moment everyone’s hands leave her body, and she jolts, the signs of life I keep expecting to see nowhere to be found.

Their continued absence is my breaking point.

I’m not a weak man, not even close, but when the jagged line racing across the front of the monitor flatlines, I hit my knees, the air that fills my lungs dissipating like vapor.

“You stay with me, Manzana!”

No response.

My heart begins to crumble.

“Goddammit, you stay!”

The incessant alarm continues.

Soul weeping, agony seizes me.

“Forever, Ari! That’s what you vowed!”

Casper storms away, his fist finding a wall.

Repeatedly.

“Hermosa, you wake the fuck—”

A small blip on the monitor, followed by another cuts off my ardent plea.

Heart coming back to life, her soul returns to her body, the tug of war game she’s playing with the reaper sent to drag her away finally turning in her favor.

Head spinning, I lean forward, palms finding the cold floor. Pulling in one breath after another, I close my eyes. The battle my woman is waging to stay alive may have only just begun, but it’s also one she’ll eventually win.

She has to.

I’m not giving her any other choice.

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