Page 16 of Dash

“Hang on.” I scooped her shoulders with my arm and heldher close to me, feeling her heart beating too fast against my chest, wondering where the hell were the paramedics.

“Something’s wrong with me.”

That was easy to see.

“I don’t know how long I have,” she murmured. “You remembered Mom at the end? I… I think it’s the same.”

Fuck, no. My guts were tied into a knot.Please, gods, make it not be so.

We’d been kids back then, but I’d seen Thena’s mother suffering and then I’d witnessed her say goodbye to her kids. To me, as well.

“At least I got to see you one last time.” She blinked and another small smile curved her lips. “We had some good times, didn’t we?”

My heart broke into a million pieces. “The best times of my life I spent with you.”

Tears escaped her eyelids. I pressed my hand against her cheek and cupped her face. The odds had been against us, especially while Richard Astor was alive, but if we could overcome our pasts, if I could heal her from whatever ailed her and she could forgive me for Nix’s death, we could still be together.

“Don’t give up yet.”Don’t give up on me. On us.

“What if I ran out of time?” she rasped.

“You haven’t.” I pressed my lips to her forehead, hoping I was telling the truth. “You’re not dying, Thena. Get that through your thick skull. You’re not gonna die.”

“Please,” she heaved and with every word her voice became weaker. “One last favor.”

“It’s not your last anything,” I countered, even though my throat closed as if a noose was tightening around my neck.

“Find my sisters,” she rasped, barely able to keep her eyes open. “Protect them. Make sure they get their share.”

“I’ll make sure every one of you gets your share.” I kissed her hand. “You’ll get well and you’ll stick around to make sure I do the job right. I’ll also make sure you’re all safe.”

“Do it now,” she rasped, small, rapid breaths that worried the hell out of me. “Go. If I can’t protect them, you must.” She gave a rattling sob as tears fell from her eyes. “Protecting them. It’s the most important thing.”

“Nothing is as important as your health,” I reminded her gently. “You need to conserve your energy right now. I’ll call your sisters as soon as we get you well and settled.”

“You don’t understand!” Desperation rattled her frantic breaths. She managed to lift her hand and grab on to my shirt, looking beyond exhausted, as if the life was draining out of her in front of my very eyes. “You can’t. Call them,” she mumbled haltingly, her gaze perusing my face even as her eyes lost luster. “Find them. Save them. Promise me.”

“I swear it, on my life.” I squeezed her other hand. “I’ll protect your sisters.”

“It’ll be hard…” Her voice trailed and her eyes closed.

“Why, Thena?” I asked, trying to keep her awake. “Why will it be hard?”

“Because…” She heaved through a rattling breath. “They’re g—g—”

Her lips moved but no words came out. Instead, a single drop of blood bubbled up and slid out of the corner of her mouth.

My guts froze. Her fingers slacked and she lost her tenuous hold on me. Her listless hand dropped to her side. Her lips stilled, leaving me surrounded by silence and a cloud of despair so thick I had trouble thinking, breathing.

“Thena?” I shook her a little but her eyes remained closed. “Thena!”

I pressed my fingers at the base of her neck. Her pulsewas out of control. If her blood pressure bottomed out, her heart could give out.

“Where the fuck is that ambulance?” I shouted in the direction of the door.

“We’renotcalling an ambulance.” Monique barreled into the room. Paolo followed on her heels, wringing his hands like a damn fool.

“You haven’t called the ambulance yet?” I obliterated Paolo and Monique with a glower and set Thena’s head down on the cushion, before I slid out my cell and called 911. I also sent a text to Jorge Rivera. Then I put my cell away and pummeled Paolo with my glare.

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