I don’t have time to process his words because Grahm slams his brakes. It feels like my brain is being torn from my skull, and a fraction of a second later a body comes crashing through the back window.
I scream as glass and blood cover me.
“Hold on!” Grahm shouts as he floors the gas again. Gunshots are popping off now and hitting the metal siding.
I hesitantly look at the unmoving person next to me. Who is it? My heart is in my throat as I unbuckle my seat belt and move to check if they are okay.
There’s so much blood, but I can hear his labored breaths. I work quickly to take his helmet off, being careful of his neck in case it’s injured.
The second I see his blond hair I know it’s John. My heart shatters, and tears trickle down my cheeks. His body is so fucking broken. I carefully take his mask off, and he flinches in shock, I think.
When I see the distance in his gaze, I know it won’t be long.
I swallow the despair in my heart, and the world becomes so, so quiet. The gunshots fade, the loud roar of engines dissipate, and only the tender draw of each pained breath takes their place.
“I’m here, John,” I whisper, holding his hand in mine. A few of his fingers are broken, but I push that idea from my mind.
One of his eyes is bloodshot, and he can’t keep his head from bobbing with the damage to his nervous system. My jaw trembles, and I force a smile even though tears drip down them.
“B-B-Briar,” he chokes on my name. The word drowns in his blood.
My grip on his hand tightens and I smile wider, pressing my cheek to the back of his hand. “Hi, John. You didn’t…need to come back for me,” I whisper to hide my sobs.
His eyes are on me, but he keeps going somewhere else before fighting his way back. His lips quiver and he manages to squeeze my hand. It’s hot with his blood and my tears.
“I’m…ngh…s-s-orry. Please, p-please forgive m-me.” Tears rush from his eyes. I trace the fear in his features—he knows, and all I can do is hold his hand and try to comfort him with my useless smile.
“I will always forgive you, always. You hear me?” His eyes soften with relief. I brush his hair back gently and press a kiss to his forehead. His grip on my hand loosens. I pull back and stare down at him. His eyes are dulling, but there’s the smallest smile on his lips. One I will never forget. It burns into me, into every icy crevice of my heart. “Goodbye, John.”
My shoulders tremble as I let the tears flow with my agonized cry.
“Briar, brace yourself!” Grahm shouts.
But it’s too late. I’m holding on to John when the truck tips and the world spins.
37
ROMAN
Taylor’s voicetears across the headsets. “Bishop’s tracker just shut down.”
We all saw how hard he went through the back of that truck. A weight buries itself into my chest, and I force my thoughts to stay clear. This fight is far from over.
“Flip it,” I order.
“But Lieutenant, Squirt’s still in there.” Bensen’s voice is torn.
My grip tightens on the handles. “I know, but she’ll be okay.” I grit my teeth.
Gale’s voice comes in. “Taking the shot.”
Bang.
The truck swerves a few times before Sutherland loses control of it and the vehicle flips off the road. It turns over three times before it stops upside down.
We surround it quickly.
“Get Sutherland!” I snap before throwing my helmet off and running to the broken windows. Glass cracks beneath my feet as I crouch and look inside. The back is empty.
