And in one life-altering moment, he kicked her, and her body flew over the edge.
Jace’s world stopped, the air hissing from his chest as his stomach convulsed.
No!
He sprinted forward, feet pounding against the walk. “Get the fuck away from her!”
Boyd’s head whipped up. Jace pulled his gun from his concealed holster.
The guy sped off in the opposite direction.
Jace fired, nailing Boyd in the shoulder, making him stumble. Before he could fire a second time—he glimpsed Elle’s fingers.
They were just visible at the edge of the skywalk.
Alive. She was alive!
The air whooshed into his chest.
Forgetting about Boyd, who’d already disappeared, Jace dropped to his knees, quickly lowering the gun and grabbing her wrist before pulling her back up. The second she was in his arms, he felt like he could breathe again.
She wasalive. She hadn’t fallen. She hadn’t died.
He closed his eyes, letting the pain, that for a split second had crushed him, slip out of his body. No, it wasn’t just pain. It was a devastation so physical and intense that he’d felt it in every muscle. Every limb. Every inch of his body.
Elle shook in his arms, her fingers latching on to him so tightly it was as if she was afraid she’d fall again.
“Jace…” That one whispered word, said with so much fear, cut into his flesh like a dagger.
He opened his mouth to respond when pounding footsteps echoed behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Kayden sprinting toward them.
His brother came to a stop. “I heard a gunshot. What happened?”
“He fucking kicked her over the edge!” Jace snarled, not a scrap of calm in his voice.
“Who?”
“Boyd, the guy who pulled a gun in the café. I shot him in the shoulder as he ran away, but he didn’t stop. I don’t know where he is.”
Anger twisted Kayden’s features. “I’ll go after him.”
“Molly,” Elle gasped, the whispered word barely reaching them. “Need to find Molly. He hit her on the way to the skywalk and knocked her out.”
“On it,” Kayden said quickly. “Jace, call Eastern.” Then his brother took off.
Jace looked down at Elle, finally focusing on her pale skin. The tremble in her limbs. “Are you okay?” The second the words were out, he wanted to kick his own ass. Ofcourseshe wasn’t okay. She’d almost died. His skin felt too fucking tight at the thought.
“I’m not sure. I…I can’t stop shaking.”
She was in shock. But then, so was he. He tightened his arms around her. “I’ve got you. You’re safe with me.”
She snuggled closer, digging her head into his chest.
He tugged out his phone and hit Eastern’s name.
“Jace, I’m just in the middle of—”
“Boyd attacked Elle.”
