Page 50 of Ink Deep Devotion

He collapses, and as I look down, a tiny bead of blood escapes his hair and rolls onto his forehead. I squint, noting the bullet’s entrance, as a widening puddle of blood starts to gather on the floor.

I stagger back, looking left to right for the shooter. The shock numbs me for a second, but it all comes, erupting through my nerves like a volcano preparing to destroy everything.

Pain. Blood. The knife.

My fingers reach for the hilt, but the touch brings a wave of pain.No! Don’t touch it!

Warm blood drenches my left leg, and I can only watch. I try to find beauty in it, like pouring cream into coffee, watching those two opposing forces swirl and be forced together. I find it mesmerizing.

Just watch it, calm down. It will all be over soon. There, that’s it, let the numbness spread. It should feel good; you’re used to being numb.

It starts to work, but then I look at the knife still buried inside of me, and pain gobbles up all the tranquility I started to feel. Each second it’s in me feels like Dom’s hands touching me again.

I need it out!

I grab the hilt in a strong grasp, but I only manage to move it an inch. The pain is too intense.“I need it out!” I cry, unable to see even my hand through the tears. The heat from my blood covers my leg entirely now, tricking me into giving in, accepting the offer, and sliding under the covers as it drags me into a bliss-promised slumber.

“Mila!” Damian shouts in the far distance. My hand falls from the knife as I swipe away tears.

Is it really them? Did I survive ten minutes because it felt like years had passed?

Damian and Titan are sprinting down the road towards me. A car is parked behind them. They are so far away that I can’t make out their features, but I can see Dash on top of the car, lying flat on his stomach. He pushes up onto his knees, locking eyes with me; distance is no disturbance for star-crossed lovers. He stands on the roof of the car, a sniper rifle in his hand. Jumping off, he enters the car and begins to speed towards us.

Relief mixes with other sensations, followed by hardness. Oh, my legs gave out, and my knees hit the ground.“Ahh!” My gasp causes my stomach to jerk against the knife, cutting me more. I grab the hilt to study it, but that hurts so badly that I moan in pain, my back hitting the soil.I just need it all to stop!

“Mila, wait, don’t pull it out!” Damian shouts, the sound nearly drowned out by the speeding car.

Titan and Damian reach me, their shadows press into me like two defibrillators ready to shock me back to life.

Is that what I want?

Titan kicks Dom’s body, but no sign of life comes.“Fuck, that was a good shot,” Titan mutters.

That shot saved me, yet deep down, I know it killed Dash a little more. Kill by kill, I’m losing him.

Damian gently forces me to lie back against the cold dirt. The tops of the trees sway above me as sunlight slithers between the branches, trying to convince me to cling to life, to feel the warmth of its rays and not the cold kiss of death.

“It’s okay, Mila.” Damian’s voice is gentle but urgent. A lie trying to trick me into believing it is fresh honey.

He grabs a knife from his pocket, quickly cutting my shirt so I’m more exposed. Then Dash is there, standing tall and over me like an angelic gravestone. His eyes are wide, frantic, wild, angry, and sorrowful.

My fingers inch out, clawing against the dirt, wanting to touch him, but he takes a step back in horror. His face pales as guilt takes over.

Of course, he feels guilt. He taught me how to spin such alluring webs; he made me think I could be as deadly as him and the other men in my life.

I don’t blame him. I’d rather die feeling strong, like I could throw a punch, even if it never landed on my target.

“Where is the closest hospital?” Damian shouts.

“I’m looking.” Titan barks, phone in hand.

“Two hours,” I whisper. Each breath I take causes my stomach to rub against the knife.“The school has a full medical team. Take me back.”

Damian looks at Titan, then at Dash.“Dash!” He shouts.“Dash!”

Dash blinks, swallows, and some robotic form of him takes over.“Get her in the car. Titan, you drive. I can’t.” He orders without moving. He doesn’t come to my side. He just stands strong and solid like an old oak tree, witnessing the ending of an era, unable to stop it or speed it up. Enduring no matter what because he has to. So many people, so many branches depend on him to survive.

“I’m going to lift you,” Damian says gently.

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