Page 137 of Forever After All

There was so much blood.

She gasped in short breaths. Her eyes were wide with a terror she couldn’t hide.

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” Linc repeated. Half to himself and half to her.

The small whisper of a siren lent him a surge of energy. “Hang in there, babe.” He pressed a hand over hers, putting pressure on the wound. How deep was it? Were paramedics coming too?

Ryan coughed and sputtered, catching his breath from having half the life choked out of him. Too bad Linc hadn’t been able to finish the job.

Jess grabbed Linc’s arm so hard her fingernails dug into his skin. “My gun. I dropped it.”

Linc scanned the room, but he only saw Ryan’s. Where had she dropped it?

Ryan turned and spat blood onto the floor before lifting his glare to Linc.

With no sign of the gun, he’d have to make do with what he had. The knife in his pocket had come in handy more than once over the years.

Ryan’s nose wrinkled, and he flung a few curses at Linc.

Words. The guy was wasting his energy on words, but it was to Linc’s benefit. The longer the guy lingered, the closer the cops got.

In the blink of an eye, Ryan lunged forward, grabbing Linc’s shirt and pulling. He had Ryan pinned again within seconds, but the last of his energy was waning.

The sirens were getting quieter and quieter. Were they leaving? They couldn’t leave.

“Give up,” Ryan snarled through gritted teeth.

Well, that wasn’t an option. Not for him, and not for Jess either. She had to hang in there. He had to save her.

Ryan bucked his hips and turned in one motion, toppling Linc off onto the floor. The wood met his face in a rush. Almost too quickly.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

“Ryan!”

Linc and Ryan both turned to Jess. She stood in the middle of the room with a gun pointed at them.

She was still bleeding, but the fire in her eyes said she wasn’t ready to give up yet.

A rush of pride welled in Linc’s chest.That’s my girl.

“Step back, or I’ll shoot,” she said calmly.

Linc raised a hand, but it fell back down. “Don’t do it.” The last word sounded funny. Almost like he was in a dream or underwater.

“You can’t shoot me,” Ryan panted. “You might miss and hit him.” He jabbed a finger toward Linc.

It might not even matter soon. The room was fading, and Linc’s shoulders were getting heavier.

Colorful lights flashed through the window, and Ryan turned. His eyes widened as the shadows fell over his face.

Had Ryan not heard the sirens? Why couldn’t Linc hear them anymore?

Jess screamed, then a blast rumbled the floor. Linc braced his hands on the wood, letting the blood trickle a hot trail down his forearms. It dripped from his hair and fell into his eyes. He couldn’t see anymore, and his arms collapsed just before his head hit the floor.

Chapter44

Jess

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