Page 117 of Brands

“What are you doing here?” I drop my gun, bad guy forgotten when I see the bloom of red spreading across his shoulder.

I fucking shot him!

“I had to…make…” He writhes in the dirt, his fingers mashed over the wound as blood seeps between them.

“Blue! My god! Help!” I cry out, hoping Devon hears me.

Sirens approach as the sheriff’s truck skids to a stop just a few feet away.

Wade and one of his deputies jump out.

He hollers and points towards the wrecked Jeep, then runs to me.

“Are you okay?” His heavy hand rests on my shoulder.

I nod, the lump in my throat too heavy to talk around.

Blue groans, falling flat. “Lib,” he chokes out, holding up a bloody palm.

I scramble to his side, smearing his fingers across my face as I press them to my cheek. “I’m here.”

“Libby, I love you,” he whispers before his eyes close.

Chapter Forty- three

Blue

A gasp rips meawake.

Libby!

Frantically, I look around at the monitors and wires, desperate to find her.

Then I see her, curled in a blanket at the foot of my bed, wedged between my ankles.

Shit, it hurts to move.

I feel like I was hit with a sledgehammer to the chest.

My bandages crinkle when I try to reach for her.

“Rebel?” I croak hoarsely. Fire burns in my throat.

Why am I so damn thirsty?

Groggily, her pretty blue eyes open. Then she sits up quickly, her hand clenching my calf. “Blue! Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” She slides her legs down, then moves up to press her cool palm against my cheek.

“For what? Are you okay? The baby?” My mind races at all of the terrible possibilities.

She shakes her head. “I’m fine, so is our baby.” Her hand moves to her belly. “I got to see the heartbeat for the first time,” she says in awe.

I can see she’s reserved, withdrawn.

“Libby,” I growl, my voice coarser than I intend. “Don’t hold back, remember? What’s going on?”

Tears well in her lower lids before they sneak down the hollow along her nose. “I shot you,” she whispers.

I can’t control the laugh that breaks free, even if it makes my shoulder erupt in agony.

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