CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

SAVANNAH

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Pain blasts across my chest.

Gina is screaming above me, but I can't focus on what she's saying. I feel the life force leaving my body and can smell the coppery scent of my blood.

I know it's mine.

My parents' faces flash before me, their judgmental expressions. My sister sneers. The desperation I've lived with for so long to be loved and accepted by them.

My career is a fleeting flash of lights, cameras, and adoration I don't deserve—not that much—along with the lonely nights in my beautiful big home.

Then I see Ryder.

Lying with his arms wrapped around me, affection rich in his beautiful blue eyes; his arousal hard up again me.

I don't regret anything we did. Not a single second of it.

I realize the moments with him have been the happiest of my life.

That I don't care what anyone thinks.

My family sent Gina to kill me.

Or if they didn't but knew how crazy she was, they didn't stop her or warn me.

Both are just about as bad as each other.

How could someone hate me so much? She will go to prison, I realize, as I feel my life slipping away.

She's destroyed her life.

She's taken mine from me.

I close my eyes, succumbing to the pain, blocking out her ranting.

God how I could have loved you.

Goodbye Ryder.

Then I let go.