Page 107 of Enraged

That’s a mistake.

“You don’t need to trust my decision makin’,” I told him flatly. “If there was a machine keepin’ you alive right now, I just might unplug it to charge my phone.”

“I wouldn’t blame you.”

“Three years, Jace. You looked at me every day for three years and lied to me.”

He stared down at his hands. “You’ll never know how much I regret it.” He looked up with tears running down his cheeks.

“I didn’t deserve that. Neither did Dak.”

His eyes lit up as he remembered why he was here. “Where is Dakota?”

“In ICU on a vent.”

He broke down in tears. “He’s in there because of me. He pulled me out of the building.”

I nodded. “He’s good at his job.”

“Most people would have just left me there. That’s what I would have wanted to do if the situation were reversed.”

I stood up from the uncomfortable hospital chair.

“I guess you are lucky that Dakota is a better man than you,” I poured salt in his wounds. “Feel better soon.”

Without another word, I turned and left his room.

Dakota

Two Weeks Later

My throat is on fuckin’ fire.

I opened my eyes.

Where the fuck am I?

“Dakota!” my dad’s voice rang out. “You’re awake!”

He appeared at my bedside, looking like he had slept under a bridge.

“You look like hell, Pops.”

“Well, your youngin’ bein’ in a coma for over two damn weeks will mess with one’s quality of life!”

Two weeks?

“Why am I here?” I croaked.

He looked alarmed. “You don’t remember the Waverly Mills fire?”

I didn’t respond to him, but it all came flooding back to me.

Lena, Cassie, the fire, those teenagers, Mayday, lost air pack, Jace…

“Jace! Is Jace alright?!”

My dad nodded proudly. “You saved his life,” he beamed. “I’m gonna go get Dr. Bowers.”

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