The van comes into view. Dante and Rafael are already here, blocking its way. The van slams on its breaks.
I don’t even wait for my car to come to a complete stop before I’m running.
The vans back doors fly open and there’s a flash of movement. Gunshots ricochet through the street.
Then—I see her.
She runs for me; eyes locked on me as if I’m the only other person in the world.
But then Lucas appears behind her.
I watch it happen.
See the moment the bullet rips through her.
Her mouth parts in a silent scream.
My heart stops beating.
I run. Faster than I ever have. My legs burn. My lungs tear. None of it matters.
She collapses just as I reach her, and I catch her, dragging her into my arms as we both crash to the ground. Fire burns along my shins as I skid across the concrete.
“Izzy.” My voice trembles. I brush sweat-soaked hair from her face, fingers shaking.
“You came,” she whispers, barely audible, reaching up to touch my cheek.
Her eyelids flutter closed.
“No, Iz,” I choke out. “Stay with me. Look at me. Open your eyes, baby.”
She blinks them open—pain-drenched and watery blue.
I just got her back. I can’t lose her. Not like this. Not ever.
“I love you,” I tell her. “Iloveyou, okay? So you can’t leave me.”
I don’t know where the bullet hit. All I see is blood.Her blood.So much blood. It stains my hands, my shirt, the ground beneath us.
Dante skids to a stop beside us, panting. “We lost them, boss,” he says, voice thick. His eyes drop to Izzy in my arms. “Doc’s on his way. But he’s far out.”
I nod. I can’t speak.
All I can do is hold her.
My perfect Isolde.
Broken again.
Because of me.
I’m frozen.
Stuck.
I should do more.
She’s naked—I rip my jacket off, covering her as best I can.
