Page 74 of Shattered

Did Lila do this? If she did, she did a fucking good job.

As I admire her work, I spot something behind Rooney and walk a few more steps to see over. That’s when I let out an inhuman cry as all the air leaves my lungs, and tears instantly burn my eyes.

It’s her.

She’s on her stomach, her head turned away from me. Her broken, naked body is absolutely painted in blood, even her blonde hair. She’s not moving.

As my world comes crashing down, I fall to my knees, not feeling the collision. I slide around her, finding her eyes shut, a few good slices on her face with old, dried blood. I can’t stop shaking to tell if she’s breathing, but when I reach down to touch her arm… it’s cold.

“No… Please…” I cry.

My entire body trembles like mad as I manage to pull her into my lap, cradling her with my back against the wall. She’s so tiny in my arms, and when I move her, she’s lifeless. Deadweight.

She’s gone.

Her body is so cold, and her face is red, like a horrid sunburn. It’s from the water. Seeing the rest of the wounds I’ve already seen and feeling her cold body in my arms makes me shudder. I rest my head against hers and let out a wail of a sob.

“Sunshine… Lila… Please come back to me…”

She’s so broken, so brutalized. And I can’t help the tears of pure grief that fall from my eyes like a faucet. Tears of rage, but also tears of loss. It’s a gut-wrenching loss that makes even my stupid leg seem unimportant.

With a knot in my throat, I hold back my sobs like a dam and press my lips to each of her eyelids and then hard on her forehead, clenching my eyes shut.

“Please, Lila… Don’t leave me here alone.”

When I feel her forehead shift and crease, I pull away, feeling the slightest glimmer of hope. Please,pleasedon’t be my imagination.Please, God… If you’re out there somewhere, please don’t take her from me. I don’t see the point of being here without her.

I hold my breath as I watch her eyelids slowly part, and something deep inside me breaks as those big, sad, broken eyes peek open, slowly coming into focus on my face. A small, broken, bloody hand drifts up, pressing against my cheek. It’s sticky and smells like iron, but I put mine over it, enveloping her cold hand in heat.

“Lila, I’ve got you,” I cry, bringing my lips to her forehead. Her hand reaches up and rests on my bicep, and I see the blood still slowly oozing from her fingernails.

“You found me…” she whispers, her eyes fluttering shut as the slightest smile slips across her lips.

“I’ve been with you this whole time. I never left. God, I’m so, so sorry.”

“Rocco?” she asks, choking as her fear spikes, and I remedy it immediately.

“Dead. Turner beat the fuck out of him, and I cut off his dick and shoved it down his throat.”

Some of the tension lifts from her body, and her little smile returns as she realizes both her demons are gone.

“Did you kill Rooney?”

She nods tiredly.

“Incredible job. Let’s get you out of here.”

She gives me a weak nod. “Did you say Turner’s here?”

“And Bane. We were so sure you were dead, I was terrified.”

Feeling her shift in my arms, I can breathe easier. She’s alive.

A creak in the floorboards grabs our attention, and Turner approaches cautiously. He pulls off his shirt and drapes it over her in myarms as he sits on the floor beside us. His brows are deeply creased as she reaches for his hand, and he takes it, tenderly stroking the palm of her hand with his thumb.

“We’re gonna get you out of here,” he says softly, a tone I’ve yet to hear from him.

She nods so slightly, resting in my arms. As I relax a little easier, Turner’s eyes meet mine, filling with tears.

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