Page 95 of Deadly Wrath

“Ales—”

I lean in, desperate to hear her, my heart hammering against my ribs. “I’m here, Liv. I’m right here.”

She exhales a shaky breath, her emerald eyes lock onto mine. “You’re… so bossy,” she murmurs, trying to tease, but it’s weak, barely a ghost of her usual fire.

I choke on a laugh that feels too much like a sob. “Damn right I am.”

Her lips twitch, like she wants to smile, but then she coughs, and I feel the warmth of her blood spill onto my lap.

Fuck. She’s losing too much. It’s on my hands, my clothes, mixing with my blood. It’s everywhere. It’s drowning me.

I press harder, but I can feel her slipping, like the thread tethering her here is fraying by the second. “You don’t get to do this, Liv. You don’t get to fucking leave me.”

Her trembling hand lifts to my face, her fingers brushing my cheek. “I love you,” she breathes, and I see the tears slipping down her face.

Both her words and tears fucking wreck me. I’m not worthy of her love. Not after what happened to her. Not after how I treated her.

She said it once before, and I pushed her away. I thought she was dreaming, that she didn’t mean it. Now she’s saying it like it’s her last chance.

“Don’t you dare.” I’m trying to hold it together for her, but I’m failing. “Don’t you fucking say thatlike you’re saying goodbye.”

I’ve seen death. I’ve dealt it with my own two hands, watched men beg for their last breath. But nothing has ever felt like this, not even when Bria died.

Because this… it feels like my heart is the one bleeding out. My world just caved in around me, like I am dying with her.

I shake my head, fear climbing its way up my throat. “You love me, right?” My voice is raw, and I know I sound desperate, but I can’t lose her. “You just fucking said it. So stay. Stay here with me, Liv.”

She blinks up at me, and I see the moment she knows she won’t make it.

Her lips part, and she tries to lift her hand, but she’s too weak. I grab it and press it against my racing heart.

Tears sting my eyes, blurring everything, but I don’t let them fall. If I start, I won’t fucking stop.

I let out a broken laugh, shaking my head, refusing to let her go. “Then fight for me, Liv. Fight for us.”

Her breath shudders. A tear slips down her cheek. “I don’t… I don’t think I can.”

No.

Her fingers tighten, the last of her strength pulling me closer. “I love you,” she whispers again, breaking apart everything inside me.

Her eyes start to close, and something in me snaps.

“No, fuck that!” My voice cracks, holding her tight against my chest. “You can fight. You will fight.” I press my forehead to hers. My whole body is fucking trembling. “Because I swear to God, Olivia, if you leave me, I will burn this entire fucking world down.”

Her lips twitch like she wants to smile.

Then… her hand slips from mine, off my chest.

And I break.

The kind of break you don’t come back from.

“Liv?” I say, barely above a whisper. I shake her gently, my breath catching in my throat. “Baby, please.” Nothing. I press my fingers against her neck, desperate for a pulse, for anything, but there’s nothing. “No. No, no, no.” My whole body shakes as I press my hands to her chest, pushing down, forcing life back into her. My vision swims, and my hands are wet with her blood. “Come on, baby,” I choke out. “Please don’t do this to me.”

Kota is yelling in the front seat, but I don’t hear him. All I hear is silence. Liv’s silence, and when her eyes flutter shut, my world stops.

I swallow down the panic ripping through me. “You’re okay,” because saying it out loud will make it happen. “You’re gonna be okay.”

---