Page 124 of Cold Hard Truth

Bikers rush for Kane, who’s slumped on the floor beside me. I don’t know whether he’s dead or alive, and I don’t have time to check as my name comes in a whisper behind me.

“Sage.”

Turning, I see Lyla leaning against the wall, and at first, I think she’s smiling, but it twists into something different, and her hand grips her side. Her body starts to sink as blood seeps between her fingers, and I realize she was hit.

“Lyla.” I drop my gun and rush for her, catching her in my arms before she hits the ground. “Lyla, stay with me.”

I brush her hair off her face.

Looking around, I see Blaze nearby and I yell for him. “Find Doc.”

He nods, dipping away to find the onsite doctor. I hold Lyla in my arms, resting her head in the nook of my arm and pressing my hand over her bloody fingers.

“Told you the cards don’t lie.” A broken smile ghosts her mouth, and I hold my hand over the wound.

Blood spills between my fingers.

“Don’t say that shit.” I shake my head. “I’m not losing you. I promised to keep you safe.”

“You do, Sage.” She lifts her hand, brushing her bloody fingers along my jaw. “My heart’s always safe with you. I love you.”

“Lyla!” Her name is a threat because I love her too, but if we do this right now, she’ll have nothing to fight for.

She needs something to fight for.

“Sage.” She smiles. “I love you. Okay? I love you.”

I hold her palm over my cheek, and her eyes start to flutter closed. “Don’t leave me, butterfly. Hold on. I love you too, and you can’t leave me. Destiny, remember? You can’t leave me like this again.”

Her fingers lose their grip as her body goes limp, and if I could cut out my own heart and put it into her chest I would. I’d hand her every last beat so she wouldn’t have to fight so hard to keep hers going.

Her eyes close, and I hold her tighter.

“Where’s Doc?” I yell at Blaze when I see him circle back intothe room.

“On his way now.” But his gaze moves to Lyla, and I know he sees it just as I do.

She’s here; she’s not. She’s fading so fast I can’t contain her wild fucking spirit. If she’d just sit still for one moment and let me save her instead of always being so intent on breaking out of every cage.

“Here,” Blaze calls for Doc when he walks in.

I can’t lose her again. I won’t survive it this time.

Her body sags over me. My fingers trail her jaw, painting a red path on her pale skin. And I swear I’m shaking as I drop them to her throat and rest over her pulse.

Hoping.

Praying.

But I’m met with silence.

40

Lyla

“Hey, butterfly.” Sage’s voicefilters through the fog.

White noise I’ve been swimming in. Endless static.

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