Page 30 of More Than A Feeling

I grabbed the portable control unit, our lifeline to the system. "Sending a distress signal."

"The fuck is going on?" Viper yelled. "Just saw Alpha One's signal go out."

Damn it!

"Fuck! We're compromised. Alphas One and Two are both down. We need backup and extraction."

Just then, an explosion rocked the building, throwing us against the wall. Pain shot through my side, but I forced myself to focus. Orion was next to me. I felt wetness and my eyes went blurry. I could feel blood seeping from a gash on my forehead.

"You okay, Wraith?" he asked.

My eyes were unfocused and shaking my head hurt. I probably had a concussion.Andsomething was wrong with my right arm.

"We're not done yet," I said through gritted teeth. Ignoring the pain, I started reconfiguring the missile system and completing our task, all the while praying Viper and Rune got the message for extraction out.

"You are bleeding, Wraith," Orion muttered.

"Let's get this done." I wondered if this was the end. Damn it! If it was the end, I wish I'd told Callum last night that I loved him.

Gunfire smattered around us.

"Let's go, we need to find—"

"You go," I cut off Orion. "I'll finish this."

"Going nowhere without you."

"You're the one who can do this, I go out, I'll be dead in a minute. Get some altitude and see if you can get our signal through. Check on Alpha One and Two. Or we'll both be fucking dead." I kept my hands working on the code. When some beeps sounded, I let relief flood me; we were at least, hopefully, going to complete our mission.

Orion gave me a look. "You stay alive, okay?"

"Ten-four and ditto."

I watched Orion leave with a heavy heart. I tried to get Viper and Rune's attention again but got nothing but static.

"Hey, if you get this and I don't make it, tell Callum I love him. Tell him he's going to be fine. Tell him... fuck, just tell him to take care of himself. And that I believe he loves me."

I felt like a fucking idiot for speaking into thin air, but maybe the signal would get to Rune and Viper, and they'd let Callum know in case I didn't make it home.

"And tell my parents…tell them I love them. Tell Sabine I forgive her. Tell June that she inherits everything from me and Titus is in my will too."

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I was saying goodbye. This sucked so much.

"Tell Callum…tell him that I love him…really, really love him. I forgive him. I've always loved him since the start. Hell, Viper, I hope I get to see him again. But if I don't, do me this favor and let him know. Okay?"

Chapter 14

Callum

Iasked Brian, Lenora, and Sabine to meet at Sabine's home.

I knew shit would hit the fan, and when it did, I didn’t want it at my place. I wanted to be able to walk away from the detritus.

I'd had a long conversation with my parents, who were equally angry with Sabine, me, and themselves.

"And I blamed her for staying away from her family," Dad said guiltily.

"How could you treat Fleur so poorly, Callum? We taught you better," Mom accused.

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