Page 151 of Dare To Fall

Eli hasn’t moved, cradling Kellan’s face, shoulders hunched and shaking. “Kell … get up. Come on. Please, just get up.”

“Please, baby. You have to let him go.” My voice wobbles, as I touch his shoulder.

“No! Never! You hear me? Never. He was pretending to be you. He was trying to find out who your blackmailer was. He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t fucking be here.”

He doesn’t even look at me, throwing out one hand to drive me away. The force is enough to send me backward into the nearest pew. His words are like spikes in my chest. Collapsing down onto the seat, my heart breaks as I watch my boyfriend desperately trying to bring his best friend back to life.

Kellan is gone. It should have been me, not him.

Eli blurs before my eyes as fresh tears spill free. My throat is tight, I can’t breathe, can barely see through my tears.

Shouts come from outside, followed closely by a dozen security men charging into the chapel. Garrett intercepts them and informs them of what we’ve found while I return to Miles’ side. Slumping down beside him against the stone wall, I wrap my arm around his shoulders. He leans into me and rests his head on my shoulder, still crying quietly.

Two of the security men move to talk to Eli, but he just shakes his head when they tell him to come away from the body. They share a look and reach for his arms. He turns on them like a wild animal, swinging his fists, snarling, and snapping his teeth. It takes four of them to physically drag him, kicking and screaming, away from Kellan’s body.

Garrett stands by, watching. Whatever strength that has been keeping him from breaking is finally reaching its limit. Tears fill his eyes, and he crumbles to his knees, succumbing to shock and grief.

I can’t stop shaking, chilled right through to my bones with my own emotions. Silently, I beg the universe to press rewind to last night.

I want to go back.

To stop before this moment can happen and shatter all our lives.

“Evan,” Miles whispers hoarsely in my ear. “It was Evan who did this.”

Chapter 101

Eli

“Kell!” My eyes snap open.

“Shh. Just relax.” A female voice, one that is vaguely familiar, sounds next to my ear. “Lay back. Stop struggling.”

“Where’s Kellan?” The words come out as a rough bark.

There’s a beat of silence. “Your father is on his way.”

“Where. Is. Kellan?” My gaze zeroes in on the nurse leaning over me.

She looks away. “The police are at the scene now. They’ll arrange for him to be taken—”

“He’s been left there?” I try to sit up again but can’t go further than sitting up. Glancing down, I discover I’ve been handcuffed to the bed. “What the fuck?”

“You were out of control.” A new voice. I swing my head around and spot Garrett standing by the door. “They’re shutting the school for a few weeks and sending everyone home.”

“Where’s Evan?”

Garrett shakes his head. “No one can find him.”

I yank on the cuff holding me in place. “I need to go back to the chapel.”

“The police have it cordoned off. There’s a detective waiting outside to speak to you. Do you feel up to it?”

I rattle the handcuff. “Don’t have much fucking choice, do I?”

“I’ll let them know.”

He disappears out of the door and is replaced by an older man who flashes his badge at me.

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