Page 32 of Tainted Wings of Failure

"You're not here." He coughs and drops of his blood and bile splash into my face, but I ignore it.

"But I am, I'm real." I offer him a smile.

"No, you're not…" Another chuckle vibrates from his chest. He must think I'm nothing more than a hallucination. A shaky breath escapes my lips as tears run down my cheeks, but before I can utter a word, he speaks again. "I'm sorry, Dove," he continues. "I should have listened to you. I broke my promise again, and now I'm dying."

"No—”

"I wanted to marry you," he cuts me off with a smile on his face. "Give you the life you deserve but I was too stubborn." His breathing begins to come in uneven, ragged gasps as he spirals into a state of panic, the veins in his throat pulsating, his Adam's apple bobbing as his jaw trembles.

"Marry me?" I ask, my voice so soft that only the two of us can hear it. He nods, his forehead bumping into mine.

"I want this normal life, with you, even if it is only for one last minute." He chokes on his words as his nodding becomes more violent, his head slamming into mine again and again. "I love you." He repeats the three words like a mantra.

Pulling away from him, I grab the knife from the garter on my thigh and cut him loose, his body collapsing forward, falling onto me as he can't hold himself up. I wrap my arms around him and hold him tight, cradling him in my arms with one hand on the back of his head, stopping him from continuing to slam his head into me. "Baby, Noah, steady breaths. Follow my lead." I take a deep, shaky breath and he does the same, holding the air in our lungs until I guide him through the exhale. We repeat the same slow rhythm, our chests rising against each other, our breathing falling in sync. I brush my fingers through his greasy, tangled hair, trying to loosen some of the knots. "You're doing good, baby," I say through sobs. "We're going home."

"I'm cold…" he whispers against my shoulder, his voice fading as his body goes completely limp in my arms.

"Kyle," I scream, my voice, hoarse and broken, tearing through air as my head whips in his direction.

Chapter 18

Noah

"I’m sorry…”

Chapter 19

Evelyn

Wrapped in a thin fleece blanket, clutching the ends and hugging it close to my chest, my eyes remain fixed on my once spotless white leather heels, now stained with dried blood. In a nervous rhythm, I tap the sole of one of the heels against the shiny marble floor of the medical ward that I have walked through many times in the past.

The first thing I did when we left the warehouse was call Riley, who immediately transferred me to the boss who gave us access to their medical resources. When we arrived, a number of doctors were already waiting for us. They rushed Noah into surgery, while Kyle provided any medical information about him, such as blood type and any other issues that might arise. In the year we had been together, we had never discussed any medical issues or details. It wasn't high on our priority list, but now, as I sit here, the harsh reality of the importance of this type of information is right in front of me.

Speaking of Kyle. I look up from my shoes to find him standing in a corner with his phone pressed to his ear, still wearing the clothes that are soaked in not only Noah's blood, but also the vomit that spilled out of his stomach when Kyle carried him to the car. He has been talking to his mom and dad ever since the nurse who had been collecting Noah's medical information left, updating them on the situation.

My attention then drifts back to the door in front of me, where the doctors and Noah disappeared long ago. The space between me and the door stretches out like an endless corridor of uncertainty, while its walls close in on me, suffocating me.

"How are you holding up?" Riley's voice cuts through and snaps me out of my trance as she sits down on the cushioned bench next to me and holds out a hot chocolate. My eyes focus on the spider tattoo on the back of her freckled hand. With trembling fingers, I take the paper cup from her. Its warmth seeps into my chilled fingers and I raise the hot beverage to my lips, taking a sip. The rich, velvety liquid coats my throat with its sweet, familiar taste. As the warmth spreads through me, the tension in my muscles begins to ease, my shoulders relax, no longer hunched, and I let out a slow, steady breath. "Thank you." I offer her a quick smile. "I'm scared."

"The doctors will do their best to help him, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"That's so easy to say, but you don't know what he looked like," I say through dry sobs, having already shed all my tears.

"You know we have some of the best doctors. Trust them." Her hand lands on my thigh and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

At the familiar sound of the elevator doors opening, both of our heads snap in the direction of the source. My gaze lands on the tall man walking in, dressed in a navy-blue suit. His short brown hair has a silver sheen to it, and the scruff on his face emphasizes his strong jawline.

Both Riley and I jump to our feet as the man approaches us. "Riley, Evelyn," he greets us with a stern expression as he comes to a halt in front of us.

"Boss." I lower my head, my eyes landing on his perfectly polished brown leather shoes. Picking at my cuticles, I try to suppress my anxiety. While I used to feel comfortable around the man who treats everyone who works for him like part of his family, I cannot deny the unease that comes with the changed circumstances. Not only am I no longer officially part of his workforce, but I also broke the promise I made to him.

"Call me Hunt. I'm not your boss anymore, Evelyn."

"I'm sorry." I swallow the lump in my throat.

"It’s okay, and who is that?" My head jerks up to see Mr. Hunt looking past me, and when I spin around, I find Kyle walking back toward us.

"I'm Kyle Bennett," he says and extends his hand to my former boss, who accepts it.

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