I pull myself up from the ground and make a grab for Jonny’s gun. He doesn’t fight back. He doesn’t move. As my eyes travel up his torso, I notice the bloom of fresh blood across his shirt. He’s dead.
Aaron is unconscious, too, and I’m just about to check him when Lottie’s screams fill the room.
“He shot her, oh my god, he shot her. No, no, no…Jack…do something,” she yells frantically.
I rush to her, pulling Lottie out of the way to see what she is yelling about. Blood is staining Arianna’s white gown and is splashed across her chest. “Jack. Is she okay? Jack…” Noanswer. His body lies across Arianna’s, where he’s shielded her. “She’s hasn’t been shot,” I mutter under my breath. “Shit, she hasn’t been shot, that’s not her blood.” I shake his shoulder to rouse him. “Jack, man, can you hear me?” I ask him in a panic.
“Sir,” he gasps on a strained breath. He is still laying over Arianna so I roll him carefully onto his back and he slumps to the floor. I kneel next to him and support his head in my hand. His breaths are shallow and coming irregularly. Shit. He’s been shot in the chest.
“It’s okay, man, listen to me. We’re gonna get you some help, okay? Stay with me, buddy.”
“I can’t,” he groans and stops trying to keep his eyes open.
“Don’t talk, just stay with me, okay? You’re my man. You saved my girl. You saved her. And when we get you out of here later, we’re going to have a fucking great big party, and maybe you’ll tell Tara how you really feel about her, it’s about time she knew, okay, man?” I’m waffling, I know I am. But I want him to hear me, to stay with me. I need to keep him alive. He has to live. “Jack…. Jack? Fuck. No…NO!” I yell.
The room comes to life with a flurry of doctors and nurses, and one bends to check Jack’s pulse.
She sighs and her eyes soften regretfully. “Sir,” she says softly, and my stomach sinks with dread.
“No. He can’t—” My throat constricts, and I know what’s coming next.
The nurse shakes her head gently. “I’m sorry.”
Chapter 20
Arianna
Icrack open my eyes. It’s an effort, they are heavy and don’t want to move at any speed. In the times it takes for my eyes to adjust to the light of the room, I try and analyze where I am. It’s quiet, and other than a steady bleep of a machine next to me, there’s very little sound.
I’m in a hospital. Again.
Why am I here?
How long have I been here?
This all too familiar awakening makes my stomach churn. And then I remember the events leading up to me being here. I snap my eyes shut as it dawns on me that I didn’t succeed. I didn’t want to be in this world any longer, but I couldn’t even manage to do that properly.
But as my brain awakens further, I’m aware of something else. Someone else.
I can smell him. I can feel him. And my body reacts to his presence like no one else.
Denham King.
I force my eyes open and glance to my side where he’s sitting in the chair sound asleep, with his head resting on the bed just to my side. I lift my hand, and although it feels like lead and takes every bit of strength that I have, I need to touch him. Am I dreaming?
I stroke his soft hair and trail my fingertips over his stubbled jaw.
“Stunner,” he groans, his voice rough with sleep but gentle. He lifts his head. “Are you okay? How do you feel?” His eyes search mine. He looks tired.
“I…” I blow out a breath, trying to piece everything together but making no sense of it. “I don’t really know what’s happening here. Jonny…he…” I frown.
Denham stands from his chair and cups my face with his big, strong hands. It feels like home. “He’s gone. It’s over, Ari. All of it. It’s over,” he whispers before tilting my head upwards gently and covering my mouth with his. And for just this moment, that’s all I need to know. Nothing else matters right now. He holds his lips on mine; communicating as only we can, and now I know I’m not dreaming. This is very real. I never thought I would be back in his arms, never thought I would get to kiss his lips again. “I love you, Arianna,” he murmurs against my lips, then pulls away and runs his thumbs over my cheekbones. “I love you. So fucking much.” His eyes glisten with emotion and raw honesty. And tears of my own, filled with happiness, and relief, spill uncontrollably and roll down my cheeks. “I thought I’d lost you, too,” he says, as he rests his forehead softly against mine. “I couldn’t bear losing you.” His tears fall and mingle withmine as we reunite. It may have only been a small time apart, but it felt like a lifetime, and it’s a reunion I never thought to even dream of.
“I love you, too,” I whisper. “I love you, too.”
8 weeks later
Freedom.
