Page 109 of Coup De Grâce
But I knew when Cash joined that I was walking a tightrope. One wrong move and we would all be dead. When I sent Flint after Cash to bring him home, I knew things were spiraling out of control, but I had hoped to meet him at our rally point and take the rest of the Shadow Government out.
Unfortunately, they could see through me. No one left my side. Not until yesterday.
The sinking feeling in my gut returned with a vengeance. It was not a coincidence that I was left alone. They were going after my family, after Claire, and there would be no stopping them.
I turned down the drive, my tires kicking up dust as I screeched to a halt. Another vehicle was already in the drive as I jumped out, running for the door.
“Claire!” I shouted, hoping I wasn’t too late.
I flung the door open and ran inside, only to fall to my knees when I saw her lying on the floor with a knife sticking out of her chest. Steele laid on the ground beside her, his body unmoving as blood congealed on the ground around him.
“Claire,” I whispered, my heart tearing in two at the sight of her.
Her beautiful, broken body laid on the floor in a pool of blood. I didn’t need to be a doctor to know she wasn’t going to make it, if she wasn’t already gone.
I crawled across the floor to her body, my hands shaking as I slid my fingers around hers. She was dying, and it was all my fault. I should have done better. I should have insisted she get to safety. Hell, I should have forced her to leave me a long time ago.
But I was selfish and wanted her back in my life. Perhaps she would have been safe if I had never contacted her again. Not that there was any point in thinking about what could have been. I was clearly too late.
And she was paying the price, lying in a pool of blood near a man who didn’t deserve to share the same space as her. He was nothing but a heartless criminal out for his own gain.
I carefully dragged her away, my tears breaking through when the gun shifted out from underneath her as a moan slipped from her lips.
“Michael,” she whispered.
“I’m here, baby,” I said, tears falling down my face as I cupped her cheeks and forced her to look at me. “I’m here, baby. You’re going to be okay.”
When she tried to speak, blood gurgled up, spilling down the corners of her mouth. “S-sorry. I…”
“Shh, don’t speak. It’s alright. It’s going to be alright.”
My hands shook as I trailed them over her body, studying where the knife entered her chest. It was close, but if it had nicked her heart, she’d already be dead. Fumbling with my phone, I dialed 9-1-1, praying they could get here in time.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she stared up at me, gasping for air. “I…couldn’t do it.”
“What, baby?”
“The…deal. Couldn’t…”
“It doesn’t matter. Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter, okay?”
“I just…wanted…it to be over,” she gasped.
“I know,” I whispered, pressing my lips to her cheek. “I know.”
“We got…Isabelle.”
“We did,” I cried, brushing the tears from her cheeks as my own fell and stained her beautiful skin. “She’s safe.”
“I wish…could be…with you.”
“You will be,” I promised. “An ambulance is on the way, baby. Just hang on. We’re going to get you out of here, and we’re going to make sure you’re okay. I swear it.”
“Too late,” she said, her voice cracking as she tried to speak.
“It’s not too late, baby.” My throat tightened painfully as I felt her life slipping away. And with her, my entire existence would disappear. I was nothing without her. It just took too damn long to get everything in motion, to end what should have been stopped years ago.
“I need you to hang on, Claire. I need you to breathe. Live for me,” I whispered. “Don’t leave me. We’re so fucking close. We can still have the life you wanted.”
