Page 24 of Gathered Sparkle

“Sylus!” It’s no more than a gasp, but his head snaps up, his eyes widening in shock. The phone vanishes into his pocket in a blink, and the engine growls to life with a twist of his wrist.

He speeds toward me, his left hand shooting out, fingers outstretched, ready to catch me. Reaching out with my good arm, I jump and swing myself onto the back of the bike, my body fitting behind him as if we’ve done this a hundred times.

The bike sways for a heartbeat, then Sylus revs the engine, and we’re off. The wind howls in my ears, tugging at my hair, and the world blurs, so I press my face against the leather jacket at his back, my arms tightening around his waist despite the pain that flares through me. It hurts like hell, but I don’t loosen my grip. Relief and fear collide in my chest, the adrenaline still rushing through my veins.

He’s got me.

I survived.

And so did Levi.

Hopefully.

CHAPTER SIX

Nicholas

The taste of her lips lingers—a ghost, a stain, a fuckingcurse. That kiss is still there, burned into me, refusing to let go.

Her words won’t stop playing in my head. Every soft-spoken confession, every lie, every moment I thought she looked at me like I mattered. Was any of it real?

Probably not.

It’s like a knife that won’t stop twisting, slicing me open again and again. And yet, I keep moving. My body has taken over where my brain refuses to function. I don’t think. I just act.

Because she told me to.

Because she needed me to do this.

Andthat,at least, feels real enough to hold on to.

Levi’s dead weight presses against my shoulders, his arms limp where I have them slung over me. My legs scream under the strain, exhaustion gnawing at every muscle. I burned myself out in the gym trying to forget her, and now I’mpaying the fucking price. My knees almost buckle, and my lungs burn, but I grit my teeth and force myself forward.

I have to.

Because she told me to.

Goddammit.

What does it say about me that, even now, even after she used me, I’d still take this risk for her?

I should have run after her.She’s hurt. They were shooting at her, actual gunfire. But she told me what she needed, and like a fucking idiot, I listened.

I’m getting Levi out.

Because I’m a fool.

Because I’m in love with her.

The moment she broke my heart, I figured out it was hers.

I shouldhateher. I should be so fucking furious that I never want to see her again.

And fuck, I am.

But instead of walking away, I take one more step. And another. And another.

Levi grunts against my shoulder, and I snap back to reality.Right. Right. Keep moving.I turn my head slightly to check on him, but he’s still out cold.

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