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Chapter 19Hell

Chapter 19

Hell

I woke some time later to wan sunlight filtering in through the cracks in the barricaded windows and muted voices from the front of the store

I blinked groggily, momentarily disoriented. My cheek was pressed against worn leather - Alex's chest. His strong arms were still wrapped around me where we sat slumped against the checkout counter. He must have held me all night.

Guilt pricked at me for falling asleep on watch, even though I knew Alex had it covered. Old habits die hard, I guess. Trust was still a luxury I was learning to afford.

I shifted, joints popping as I carefully disentangled myself from Alex's embrace. He stirred, ice blue eyes cracking open to peer at me from beneath dark lashes.

"Morning," he rumbled, voice gravelly with sleep. His large hand came up to brush a thumb across my cheek. "How'd you sleep?"

"Better than I have in a long time," I admitted, catching his hand and pressing a kiss to his palm. "Thank you. For staying with me."

A soft smile curved Alex's lips, making my heart lurch behind my ribs.

Voices drew my attention to the front of the store where the others were starting to stir. Wyatt was already up, methodically packing away the bedding while Dante tended to Rebel, changing her diaper with a gentleness that still caught me off guard sometimes.

I slid off the counter, stretching my arms overhead until my spine cracked.

My boots hit the scuffed linoleum as I made my way over to the others, Alex a reassuring presence at my back. Wyatt glanced up, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners when he saw me.

"There she is," he drawled, setting aside the bedroll he'd been folding. "Sleeping Beauty finally decides to grace us with her presence."

I flipped him off, fighting a smile. "Fuck you, cowboy. I was on watch most of the night."

Wyatt chuckled, pulling me into a one-armed hug and planting a whiskery kiss on my temple. "I know, darlin'. Just giving you a hard time."

I leaned into him for a moment, breathing in his familiar scent of leather and pine. These stolen moments of levity and affection were what kept me going most days. Reminded me that even in this fucked up world, I still had something worth fighting for.

Dante wandered over with Rebel cradled against his chest, her little face peaceful in sleep. "She's fed and changed," he reported softly so as not to wake her. "Should be good for a bit."

I reached out, stroking a finger down Rebel's soft cheek. "Look at you, a regular baby whisperer," I teased gently.

Dante ducked his head, a pleased smile tugging at his mouth. For such a big, tough man, he sure did melt around little ones.

"If I'm being honest," he said with a sheepish look, "I can't wait until we get back and find someone to look after her properly. I love kids, but the parent life was never in the plan."

My shoulders dropped in a strange kind of relief. "Thank fuck, because I don't have a maternal bone in my whole body."

Missy snorted from where she was shoving supplies into her pack. "That makes two of us. Can you imagine either of us with a squalling brat attached to our tit 24/7? No fucking thank you."

I barked out a laugh, the image too ridiculous. "We'd probably end up using it for zombie bait the first time it pissed us off."

"Hell!" Nina gasped, smacking my arm. But her eyes danced with mirth. "That's terrible. True, but terrible."

"Good thing we've got these softies to play mama and dada," I said, jerking my chin at the guys. "Let them deal with the shit and drool."

Dante just shook his head, an amused smile playing about his lips. "Remind me never to leave you alone with the children."

I smirked, unbothered by Dante's teasing. He knew as well as I did that despite my crass words, I would protect Rebel and any other little one with my life. In this world, children were precious, a symbol of hope for a future we were all fighting tooth and nail for.

"So what's the plan, boss lady?" Missy asked, zipping up her pack and slinging it over her shoulder. "We hitting the road or what?"

I glanced around at the disheveled store, the weak sunlight struggling through the barricaded windows. As much as part of me wanted to hunker down here for a day or two, let the dust settle after the clusterfuck on the bridge, I knew it wasn't smart. That gunshot would have drawn every rotting freak for miles. We needed to keep moving.

"Yeah, we'll roll out asap," I decided. "Scavenge what supplies we can and load up the cars. I want to put some distance between us and the mess we left back there."

Alex nodded grimly, his eyes hard. "Agreed. The further we are from that horde, the better."

We geared up quickly and efficiently, a familiar dance honed by necessity. I laced up my boots and strapped on my weapons as Alex and Wyatt loaded up the cars with our meager supplies and siphoned gas. Dante tucked Rebel into an old car seat we'd scavenged, murmuring softly to her in Spanish as he secured the straps.

Nina and Ret did a final sweep of the store, grabbing any last minute items that could be of use. Missy stood watch by the barricaded front doors, her machete at the ready and a scowl etched into her fierce features.

I joined Alex at the lead car, shoving down the uneasy feeling that had plagued me since waking. Something felt off, a tingling at the base of my skull that usually spelled trouble. But I couldn't put my finger on what.

"You good?" Alex asked slowly, his icy eyes searching my face. He could always read me like a damn book.

I shrugged, trying to shake the feeling. "Yeah, just...got a weird vibe. Like we're being watched or something."

Alex's gaze sharpened, scanning the surrounding area through the gaps in the barricade. "I don't see anything. But keep sharp. Your gut is rarely wrong about these things."

I nodded tightly, my hand settling on the comforting weight of my crossbow. Gut feelings were often the difference between life and death out here. Only fools ignored them.

We finished loading up and gathered by the cars, Missy and Dante pushing aside the shelving unit barricading the door. Weak sunlight spilled into the dim store, making us blink and squint after the gloom.

I hefted my crossbow, senses on high alert as we filed out into the parking lot, eyes peeled for any sign of danger. But the cracked asphalt was empty, littered with debris and the rusted out husks of abandoned vehicles.

Still, that tingling unease persisted, the fine hairs on my nape standing at attention. Something wasn't right. I could feel it in my bones.

We piled into the cars, Dante carefully setting Rebel's car seat in the back before sliding behind the wheel. I rode shotgun, Alex. Ret and Wyatt flanking the rear. Nina, Missy, the boys and my brothers climbed into the other vehicle.

The engines rumbled to life, shattering the eerie morning stillness. We pulled out slowly, weaving through the obstacles littering the lot. My eyes never stopped moving, scanning the tree line, the derelict store-fronts, the yawning black mouths of alleyways, searching for the threat I could sense lurking just out of sight.

We made it to the main road without incident. Maybe I was just being paranoid. Wouldn't be the first time.

The unease followed me as we sped down the deserted highway, an itch between my shoulder blades I couldn't scratch. I kept my crossbow across my lap, finger resting on the trigger guard. Just in case.

Rebel slept soundly in her car seat, lulled by the vibration of the engine. Dante hummed softly, some old country song about heartbreak and empty bottles. It was almost peaceful. Almost.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the calm before the storm. That other shoe hovering, waiting to drop and unleash fresh hell upon us. Story of my fucking life.

The miles ticked by, the scenery blurring together in a wash of faded colors - gray asphalt, brown soil, bleached out sky. No undead in sight. Small mercies.

I was just starting to relax fractionally, to convince myself it really was just paranoia gnawing at me, when Dante suddenly sat up straight, eyes narrowing at the rearview mirror.

"We've got a tail," he said tersely, hands tightening on the wheel.

Ice flooded my veins. I twisted in my seat to peer through the grimy back window. Sure enough, about a quarter mile behind us, I could make out a truck coming up on us fast.

My heart kicked into overdrive as I squinted at the approaching vehicle through the haze of exhaust and road dust. It was a heavy duty pickup, rusted and dented but still hauling ass. And it was definitely heading right for us.

"Shit," I hissed, adrenaline surging through my system, chasing away the last vestiges of exhaustion. "Can you make out how many are in there?"

Wyatt leaned forward from the backseat, sharp eyes focused on our pursuers. "Looks like three, maybe four. Hard to tell at this distance."

"Are there any trappers out this far?" Alex asked grimly, checking the clip in his pistol.

"Doubt it. They might just be scavengers," Dante muttered. "Probably saw us leaving that strip mall, figured we had supplies worth stealing."

"Well they picked the wrong fucking group to mess with," I growled, feeling that familiar icy rage crystallize in my gut. The kind that made me deadly.

I snatched up the radio, barking orders to Missy in the other car. "Heads up, we've got company! Unidentified truck coming up on our six, at least three hostiles. Could be scavengers looking for an easy mark."

Missy's voice crackled back, tight with tension but steady as ever. "Copy that. Want us to run interference?"

I chewed my lip, mind racing through our options as the truck gained ground behind us. We were sitting ducks on this open stretch of highway. But if we led these assholes back to the ranch, we'd be putting everyone there at risk too.

"Negative," I decided. "We'll handle it. We're only seventy miles away from the ranch. You just get the boys home safe. Put the pedal to the fucking metal and don't look back, you hear me?"

There was a beat of heavy silence before Missy replied, her words clipped but layered with grim understanding. "Roger that. Give 'em hell, Hell. We'll see you on the other side."

I slammed the radio back into its cradle, jaw clenched so tight my teeth ached.

"We'll let them catch up, see what these fuckers want before we start blasting. Ret, you keep Rebel safe, get down on the floor if shit starts flying."

Ret nodded tightly, already unbuckling Rebel's car seat to transfer her to the floor. The baby was awake now, her little face scrunched up in distress, sensing the tension crackling in the air.

The truck roared closer, engine growling like a predatory beast. I could see the glint of sunlight off what looked like a mounted gun on the roof. Fuck. These weren't just ordinary scavengers.

"Get ready," I warned, raising my crossbow. Beside me, Alex and Wyatt gripped their weapons, faces grim and eyes hard as flint. Dante's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.

When the truck was about fifty feet back, a hand thrust out the passenger window, waving a dirty white rag. The universal sign for parlay. I clenched my jaw, not trusting it for a second. But we couldn't take on that mounted gun in a firefight, not without risking Rebel.

"Pull over," I bit out to Dante. "But keep the engine running. And be ready to floor it if this goes sideways."

He gave a tight nod, easing the car onto the shoulder. I glanced in the side mirror, watching the truck slow and pull in behind us, kicking up a cloud of dust. My heart pounded against my ribs like a caged animal.

Four men piled out, all rough-looking and heavily armed. They approached our car warily, stopping about twenty feet back. The one in the

The one in the lead, a burly man with an older model respirator on, something he likely owned before the government dropped them for us. He raised his hands in a show of non-aggression. But I wasn't buying it for a second. My finger hovered over the trigger of my crossbow, ready to put a bolt through his eye at the first wrong move.

"Easy there," he called out, his voice gravelly and thick with a Southern drawl. "We don't want no trouble. Just thought y'all might be up for a little trade, is all."

I narrowed my eyes, not lowering my weapon an inch. "We look like a fucking general store to you? Keep moving and nobody has to get dead today."

The man chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "Now, now, no need to get hostile, sweetheart. We're all just trying to survive out here, same as you."

My lip curled in disgust at the condescension dripping from the endearment. "Call me sweetheart again and you'll be surviving with a bolt through your throat."

Wyatt shifted beside me, his presence solid and reassuring. "State your business, then get back in your truck and fuck off," he growled. "We ain't interested in whatever you're selling."

The man's eyes flicked to Wyatt, then back to me. I could practically see the gears turning in his head, calculating the odds.

The man's eyes lit up with a sick, greedy glint when he spotted Rebel in the backseat. My blood turned to ice in my veins. Instinctively, I shifted to block his view, a snarl building in my throat.

"Well now, ain't that precious cargo you got there," he drawled, a lecherous smirk twisting his weathered face. "A baby is a rare commodity these days. I reckon my boys and I could take her off your hands, make it worth your while."

White hot rage exploded behind my eyes. How fucking dare he. In one fluid motion, I raised my crossbow and fired, the bolt punching through the meat of his shoulder. He howled in pain and staggered back.

"The baby is not for sale, you sick son of a bitch!" I roared, already reloading. Beside me, Alex and Wyatt had their guns trained on the other men, fingers poised on the triggers.

The wounded man clutched at his bleeding shoulder, his face contorted with agony and fury. "You crazy fucking cunt!" he spat. "You're gonna regret that!"

"Last warning, asshole," I snarled, my finger twitching against the trigger. "Get back in your truck and fuck off while you still can."

For a tense moment, no one moved. The air crackled with the promise of violence, the acrid stench of gunpowder and sweat heavy in my nostrils. I kept my crossbow leveled at the leader's head, ready to paint the road with his brains at the slightest provocation.

Behind me, I heard the soft click of the safety on Alex's gun, saw Wyatt's finger tighten minutely on the trigger of his rifle out of the corner of my eye. They were poised to unleash hell the second these bastards twitched wrong.

"Think real careful about your next move," I warned, my voice a deadly calm despite the rage boiling in my gut. "Walk away now and you get to live. Push this and I'll feed your fucking corpses to the zoms piece by piece."

The leader glared at me, fury and pain twisting his face into an ugly mask. Blood seeped between his fingers where they clutched his wounded shoulder. I felt a vicious satisfaction at the sight.

"This ain't over, you fucking bitch," he spat, spittle flying from his lips. "You're gonna pay for this."

I bared my teeth in a feral grin. "Looking forward to it, shithead. Now fuck off before I put the next one between your eyes."

For a second, I thought he might actually be stupid enough to try something. Then, Anubis let loose a vicious growl, and the guy's eyes widened as if just now noticing the doberman in the back.

His gaze darted to his men, a muscle ticking in his clenched jaw. But self-preservation won out over wounded pride. With a final venomous glare, he jerked his head at his crew.

"Let's go," he bit out. "These cunts ain't worth the trouble."

I kept my crossbow trained on them as they backed away, never taking my eyes off the leader until they piled into their truck. The engine roared to life and they peeled out, spitting gravel. I didn't relax until their tail lights faded into the distance.

"Fucking hell," Wyatt exhaled, lowering his rifle. "That was too damn close."

"You okay?" Alex asked, his hand finding my knee and squeezing. I could feel the tension thrumming through him, the barely leashed violence.

I nodded tightly. "I'm good. But we need to move. They might come back with reinforcements."

Dante was already throwing the car into gear. "Roger that. Let's burn rubber."

We tore off down the highway, putting the pedal to the floor. In the backseat, Rebel started to wail, upset by the sudden motion and the lingering tension.

"Shhh, sweet girl," Ret soothed, bouncing her gently. "It's okay. We're okay."

But a cold, heavy knot of dread sat in the pit of my stomach as the miles flew by. We weren't okay. Not by a long shot.

Those men might follow us back to the ranch. They might try to take what my daddy fought so hard to build there.

I glanced over at Alex, seeing the same grim certainty reflected in his icy eyes. He reached over and took my hand, lacing our fingers together. A silent promise. Whatever fresh hell was waiting for us, we'd face it together. Always.

Dante pushed the car to its limits, the engine whining in protest as we sped down the cracked highway. We had to reach the safety of the ranch before those men regrouped and came back for blood.

Wyatt kept watch out the rear window, his rifle at the ready. I could see the tension coiled in his broad shoulders, the way his jaw clenched as his sharp gaze scanned the road behind us.

In the backseat, Ret had managed to calm Rebel's cries to soft whimpers. She cradled the baby close, murmuring soothing nonsense as Rebel's eyelids fluttered.

The miles flew by in a blur of adrenaline and fear as Dante pushed the car to its limits. I kept my crossbow clutched tight, eyes scanning the road ahead for any sign of trouble. Beside me, Alex's gun never wavered from the rear window, his body a coiled spring ready to unleash violence at the first sign of pursuit.

The ranch finally came into view, its sturdy walls and watchtowers rising up from the barren landscape like a goddamn fortress. Relief crashed through me at the sight, so strong it almost buckled my knees. We were close. Just a little further and we'd be safe behind those walls with the rest of our people.

Dante slowed as we approached the gate, the guards on duty already moving to open it at the sight of our vehicles. We rolled through, gravel crunching beneath the tires, and I allowed myself to breathe a little easier as the heavy metal clanged shut behind us.

But the reprieve was short-lived. No sooner had we climbed out of the car, Rebel clutched protectively to Ret's chest, than my brother came sprinting across the yard, his face pinched with worry. Several men followed on his heels. Anubis hopped out of the car, already on edge, knowing something was wrong.

"We got a problem," Travis panted, skidding to a stop before me. "Strangers at the back gate, at least a dozen. All armed to the teeth. They're demanding to speak to whoever's in charge."

Ice slithered down my spine, dread pooling heavy in my gut. My gaze shot to Alex, Wyatt and Dante, seeing my own grim realization reflected back at me. Those men had followed us, just like I'd feared. And they'd brought backup.

"Fuck," I spat, my grip tightening on my crossbow. "It's got to be those bastards from the highway. They tracked us here."

Scottie and Niko ran up a moment later, nodding to Travis.

Dante's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "I thought we lost them. I made sure of it."

"Doesn't matter now," Alex growled, checking the clip in his gun. "They're here and we need to deal with it."

I nodded sharply, already moving towards the back gate with determined strides. "Ret, get Rebel inside and lock it down tight. "Scottie, Travis, gather everyone and get them to the safe zone int he barn. This could get real fucking ugly real fast."

They scattered to follow my orders, faces grim but resolute. These were my people, my family, and I'd be damned if I let anyone threaten what we'd built here.

The guys fell into step beside me, weapons at the ready as we approached the gate. I could hear raised voices on the other side, male and angry. My blood boiled, fury mixing with the icy dread in my veins. How dare they come to my home, my sanctuary, and demand anything.

I motioned for the guards to open the gate, my finger hovering over the trigger of my crossbow. With a metallic groan, the heavy doors swung inward, revealing a tense standoff on the other side.

At least a dozen men stood in a loose semi-circle, all heavily armed and glaring at us with open hostility. I recognized the leader from the highway confrontation, his shoulder hastily bandaged and fury burning in his eyes. They were outmanned and outgunned, so I'd be damned if I showed even a flicker of fear.

"Well, well, look who it is," the leader sneered, his gaze raking over me with cruel amusement. "The crazy cunt who thinks she can go around putting holes in people without consequences."

My lip curled in disgust, rage simmering just beneath my skin. "The only consequence here is gonna be me putting another hole in you if you don't take your boys and fuck off real quick."

The man barked out a harsh laugh. "Sweetheart, I don't think you quite grasp the situation here. See, you pissed off the wrong people. This is officially Trapper territory now, and we don't take too kindly to disrespect."

A chill skittered down my spine at the name, but I kept my face carefully blank. The trappers were a vicious gang that had been carving out a brutal empire in the ruins of the old world. They'd captured me twice, and my men and I slaughtered their leader and his cultish followers. So where the hell did these guys come from?

I kept my crossbow leveled at his head, my finger poised on the trigger. Beside me, I felt Alex, Wyatt and Dante tense, ready for violence at a single twitch.

"Last I checked, Mac and his cult of trappers were nothing but rotting corpses fertilizing the dirt," I said evenly, my voice hard as steel. "We wiped those sadistic fucks out months ago. So you'll have to excuse me if I don't tremble in my boots at the mention of a dead gang."

The leader's eyes flashed with anger, his mouth twisting into an ugly sneer. "You stupid bitch. Cut off one head, and two more rise in its place. We are everywhere. And now we're going to take everything you have, starting with that precious baby."

White hot rage exploded through me at the threat to Rebel. I surged forward, getting right in the bastard's face, my crossbow digging into the soft flesh under his chin. He stilled, nostrils flaring as he glared down at me.

"Listen closely, you pathetic sack of shit," I hissed through clenched teeth. "If you or your buddies so much as breathe in that little girl's direction, I will end you in ways your tiny brain can't even comprehend."

The leader's eyes widened briefly at my words before narrowing into furious slits. "You're going to regret saying that, you fucking whore," he spat.

I didn't flinch, just pressed my crossbow harder into his throat until he choked. "The only thing I regret is not putting a bolt between your eyes back on the highway. But I can fix that real quick."

"Hell," Dante warned. "Don't let him bait you."

I barely heard him over the roaring of blood in my ears, the all-consuming rage turning my vision red. This waste of skin had come into my home, threatening my family. He didn't deserve to breathe the same air as the rest of us.

But Dante was right. I couldn't let my temper override my good sense, not with so much at stake. Slowly, I eased the pressure on the man's windpipe and took a step back. He gasped and sputtered, glaring at me with murderous hatred.

"This is your one and only warning," I said coldly, my voice carrying across the assembled men. "Leave now and never come back. Because I promise you, if I ever see your faces again, I will paint the fucking walls with your insides."

The leader opened his mouth, no doubt to spew more venom, but the click of a dozen guns cocking silenced him.

My people had arrived, fanning out behind me with weapons drawn and faces hard as stone. Scottie and Travis flanked me, their own crossbows leveled at the trappers. Nina and Missy stood tall, rifles clutched in steady hands. Even some of the civilians had armed themselves, their terror tempered by fierce determination.

The trappers shifted uneasily, suddenly finding themselves outgunned and surrounded. Their leader's eyes darted from face to face, his bravado wavering in the face of our united front.

"You're outnumbered," Alex stated coldly, his pistol never wavering from the man's head. "And we protect our own. So I suggest you listen real fucking carefully to what Hell just said."

"Because if you don't," Wyatt added, his deep voice a menacing rumble, "we'll gladly send you to meet your dead pals in whatever hellhole they're roasting in."

For a tense moment, no one moved. The very air crackled with the promise of violence, thick enough to choke on. I kept my finger poised on the trigger, ready to unleash bloody retribution at the slightest provocation.

The Trapper leader's eyes flicked from me to my men, a muscle ticking in his clenched jaw. For a moment, I thought he might actually be stupid enough to try something. But then he took a step back, raising his hands in a mocking gesture of surrender.

"Fine," he spat. "We'll go. But this ain't over, you crazy bitch. Not by a long shot."

With a jerk of his head, he motioned for his men to fall back. They lowered their weapons reluctantly, shooting venomous glares at us as they backed away. I kept my crossbow trained on the leader, not trusting the retreat for a second.

They made it about twenty paces before the leader paused, his broad back to us. Every muscle in my body tensed, a prickle of unease skittering down my spine. Something wasn't right.

"Oh, one more thing," the leader called out, his voice deceptively casual.

In the space of a heartbeat, several things happened at once. The leader spun around, a pistol appearing in his hand as if conjured from thin air. His arm extended, the muzzle of the gun pointing directly at my face.

I saw his finger tighten on the trigger in slow motion, just as Anubis lunged for his arm. I heard the sharp crack of the gunshot ring out, deafening in the tense silence. I felt the white-hot slam of the bullet piercing my flesh, tearing through skin, muscle and bone of my hip. A bullet that would have gone through my head if it hadn't been for Anubis.

Searing pain exploded through my body as I crumpled to the ground, my crossbow falling from suddenly nerveless fingers. Dimly, I heard screaming, shouting, more gunfire erupting around me. But it all seemed distant, drowned out by the roaring of blood in my ears and the white-hot agony radiating from my hip.

Through blurry vision, I saw Anubis savaging the Trapper leader's arm, blood spraying as the bastard howled and tried to beat the dog off. Then Alex was there, a ferocious snarl on his face as he grabbed the man and slammed his head into the ground with a sickening crack.

Dante and Wyatt moved like twin forces of nature, striking down any Trapper stupid enough to raise a weapon with merciless efficiency. My brothers and my girls had opened fire too, their bullets tearing through the remaining men as they tried to scatter.

I dragged in a ragged breath, the copper tang of blood thick on my tongue. My hands fluttered weakly to my hip, feeling the sticky warmth soaking through my pants. So much blood. Too much.

"Fuck, baby, stay with me!" Alex's panicked voice cut through the descending haze. His face swam into view above me, pale and stricken. Gentle hands cradled my head, trembling against my clammy skin.

I tried to speak, to tell him it would be okay, but only a choked gasp escaped me. The edges of my vision darkened, the pain fading into icy numbness.

"Don't you fucking dare die on me, Helana," Alex growled, desperate and raw. "You stay awake, you hear me? Keep those eyes open!"

Wyatt and Dante crashed to their knees beside me, their hands joining Alex's in putting pressure on the gushing wound. I wanted to reassure them, to crack a joke about this just being a scratch, but I couldn't muster the strength. A bone-deep cold was seeping through my veins, pulling me under.

Anubis whimpered, nuzzling at my limp hand, his muzzle smeared crimson. Good boy. He'd saved me from a headshot. Always protecting me, even from my own recklessness...

Shouts and running footsteps pounded around me, but they seemed distant, muffled, like my head was underwater. Nina's ashen face appeared, then Missy's, twisted with fear and fury.

"The bleeding won't stop! We need to get her inside!"

"Hell, keep breathing, baby, stay with me," Dante pleaded, his voice cracking as he applied more pressure to my hip. The pain was fading now, replaced by a terrifying numbness spreading through my body.

Suddenly I was being lifted, cradled against a hard chest. Alex. He carried me swiftly across the yard, barking orders at the others. "Get the med kit! Someone find Jim, he's the only one with surgical training!"

I was jostled as we moved inside, my head lolling weakly against Alex's shoulder. Darkness crept along the edges of my vision, a heaviness settling into my limbs. It would be so easy to just let go, to slip into that painless oblivion...

"Don't you dare," Alex growled above me, as if reading my thoughts. "You keep fighting. Don't you fucking leave us."

I was laid on a table and suddenly the room was a flurry of activity. Jim's weathered face appeared, his jaw set as he assessed my wound. "Bullet's still in there. Didn't hit the artery but she's losing blood fast. I need to operate, now."

Dante cursed, running a trembling hand through his hair. "Do it. Fucking save her, Jim!"

"Hell, listen to me," Alex gripped my face, his icy eyes searing into mine. "You're the toughest damn woman I know. You survive this, you hear me?"

I tried to nod, to form words, but the darkness was pulling me under, Alex's desperate face fading above me. The last thing I heard was his broken plea before the void swallowed me whole.

"Come back to me, Helana..."

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