Chapter 24

I'd never felt this kind of pain before. It was as if someone had reached inside my chest and ripped my heart to shreds. I'd endured physical abuse that had pushed me to the limits, but it was nothing compared to the emotional turmoil that now swirled in my stomach.

I'd never allowed anyone close, never allowed anyone to affect me. But Lily had somehow penetrated the walls around my heart, embedded herself deep in my soul. My heart was reserved for her and her alone.

I would never allow anyone to replace her memory. Never for the rest of my days would I forget the time I'd spent here, and the woman I'd come to care for—deeply.

That was one more reason I needed to leave. Love changed a person, made them vulnerable. I couldn't afford that. Lily was already in jeopardy, and I needed to put as much distance between us as possible.

Part of me acknowledged that it was already too late. I didn't want to examine my feelings too closely, not until I was far, far away. If I gave in to the urge to open up and validate my emotions, I was afraid I would never leave. Lily was my once in a lifetime.

And I had no choice but to leave her behind.

The sound of Lily returning drew my attention to the back door, and I crossed the room to help her. But she wasn't alone.

My blood ran cold at the sight of the man behind her, a matte black pistol pressed to her skull. My fingers itched the grab the knife still tucked into my waistband, but I knew I wouldn't be fast enough. She'd be dead before I even got close to him.

Ara?a's man turned the pistol on me, a smirk curving his lips. "We meet again. And look—I found your plaything."

Lily's eyes were wide with fear, and I forced myself to look away from her, to focus on the man. "You came for me. Let her go."

He raised a brow. "Hmm… I don't think I will."

His hand slid over her hip and pulled her against him. Lily cried out, and I instinctively grabbed the knife.

"Put down your weapon." A second gunman appeared in my peripheral vision.

Fuck.

I'd been so focused on Lily that I never even heard him approach.

My grip tightened on the hilt of the knife, and the man behind Lily raised a brow as he redirected the pistol to her temple. A malicious smile curved his lips as he slid his hand higher. My stomach somersaulted as he roughly grabbed her breast. Her eyes closed under the assault, her teeth sinking into her lower lip to stop the soft whimper that bubbled up. Red bled into the edges of my vision.

"Touch her and die." I tried not to look at her. I knew she was terrified. I set the knife on the floor, then kicked it away.

"That's good." The man watched the knife skitter under the table, then turned his gaze back to me. "Where's Morrison?"

I stared blankly at him, unsure who he was talking about. "Never heard of him."

His head tipped slightly to one side. "You kill him?"

I shook my head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"No?" He glanced around the room, but the gun never wavered from Lily's head. "I assume you have the book?"

I fought to keep the confusion from my face. What the hell was he talking about? "I don't know anything about a book."

I ground my teeth together as he squeezed Lily, who cried out again. "What about you?"

She shook her head vehemently. "I—I don't have any book. I swear. G-go look."

Her body trembled violently, and I wanted to rip her from his arms. "She has nothing to do with this. Let her go."

He smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"

He stroked the muzzle along her cheek, and she recoiled. Fury simmered in my veins. "It's me you came for. Take me."

I didn't want to press my luck by bartering too much. If they suspected how much I cared for her, they would have no mercy on her. They'd break her just to teach me a lesson.

"A life for a life?" He rolled his eyes with a sigh. "How predictable."

He released his hold, and Lily stumbled away a few steps. My heart leaped with hope. "Lily, go."

I could feel her gaze swing my way. "But…"

"Go. Now." She hesitated another moment, and my pulse accelerated. She needed to get as far the hell away from him as she could before he changed his mind.

"Goddamn it, Lily!" I screamed. "Get the fuck out of here!"

The man sneered. "You're wasting my time."

The pistol swung my way, and his finger tightened on the trigger. In my peripheral vision, I watched as Lily suddenly changed directions, throwing herself my way.

"No!"

The gun went off and, almost simultaneously, a scream rent the air as Lily crumpled to the floor. Gunfire erupted around me, but I wasn't paying attention.

My gaze was fixed on Lily as I dropped to my knees by her side and sheltered her body with my own. "Oh, God. Lily, mi corazón, look at me."

She grimaced, and her lashes fluttered as she fought to open her eyes. An agonized moan escaped her lips, and dark red blood blossomed over her torso where she'd been hit. I yanked her shirt up, searching for the injury. My stomach twisted at the sight of the ragged flesh.

"You're going to be fine." I pressed one hand to the wound, and she cried out at the contact. The sound pierced my heart like a knife. I'd done this; she'd been hurt because of me.

A dozen emotions swam through my chest, making my skin feel too tight for my body. I'd never allowed myself to be hindered by emotion before. I'd always prided myself on remaining calm in any situation, but this pushed me to the edge. A murderous rage swept over me at the injustice of it all.

A quick glance in his direction told me that the man who'd shot her was dead. Good thing, because in that moment I wanted to kill him all over again, drag out his death, make it slow and painful.

Lily drew in a wheezing breath, and her eyes closed again. "Look at me," I demanded, my voice cracking. "Look at me, damn it!"

Her lids opened to tiny slits, and her mouth twisted. "So… bossy."

The relief I felt at her sassy response died away when her eyes closed again a moment later. "Why the hell did you do that? Don't ever do something like that again."

She winced as she spoke. "Someone had to protect you."

Awe and fury pulsed through me. She'd sacrificed herself for me. "That was stupid."

My words were harsh, but as usual, they had the opposite effect on Lily. She offered a tiny smile as she met my gaze. "I would do it all over again." Her gaze turned serious. "I'm so glad I met you."

I recognized the look in her eyes, the way exhaustion pulled at her. Blood oozed steadily under my hand, seeping into my jeans and pooling in the carpet beneath me. "Don't you dare give up," I snapped. "You're going to be okay."

Maybe if I said it fiercely enough, I could divine it. The light in her eyes began to fade, and terror raced through me. She was losing too much blood.

"Lily. Stay with me." Her muscles grew lax, and her eyes closed. "Lily!"

I dimly became aware of the silence that hung heavily in the room. At some point the barrage of gunfire had stopped, though I'd been too focused on Lily to notice.

A large form appeared next to me, and I was startled to find Fox staring down at me. "Help her," I begged. "Please. I know I don't deserve it, but she's…"

My voice cracked as the fear of losing her engulfed me. "I'm so sorry about Eva. I should have known... I never should have let her go, and now... I'll understand if you can't forgive me, but God... Please. Please don't let her die."

Fox stared at me, a question in his eyes as he knelt next to me and studied Lily. "Where's the closest hospital?"

My mind blanked. I had no idea.

"Kalispell." We turned toward Callum, who'd spoken. "It's an hour away."

"Find a doctor. Quickly." Fox jerked his chin, and the man disappeared to do his bidding.

Around me, Fox's men began to clean up the gory scene. They'd shown up seemingly out of nowhere. Why they were here? The thought was forgotten almost immediately as my attention riveted on the woman in my arms. "Lily. Wake up."

My vision blurred and pain like I'd never known sliced through my heart. Her breathing was shallow, her chest barely moving as she fought to drag in oxygen. "Please," I begged. "Don't you dare leave me. I need you."

I buried my face in her hair and held her close as blood spilled over my fingers and the life slowly drained from her body.