“No. Don’t stop,” he ordered.
The men shook their heads, and their voices muted as they told them Riley didn’t make it.
Garrett growled and leaned over her. “Damn it, Riley. Tara and I need you,” he said, covering her mouth and breathing life into her. One of the firefighters lent him a hand and started chest compressions.
Tara cried as Rebecca held her. Jameson dropped to his knees by his new friend while Julio knelt by the top of Riley’s head.
He leaned in, giving her another breath. “I just found you. I can’t lose you now,” he whispered through his tears. He gave her one final puff and sat up, accepting she was gone.
“She’s breathing…” the firefighter exclaimed.
“Get the oxygen,” another ordered as they rushed to keep her with them.
Garrett choked out a relieved cry as Jameson patted him on the back. He turned to Tara and stood, holding out his arms.
“Thank you, Garrett,” she said, wrapping her arms around him and speaking into his chest as they loaded Riley onto a stretcher.
“Come on, we have to get her to the hospital,” he told her. “You ride with her, and I’ll ride up front,” he glanced at the firefighter, who nodded.
The siren blared as they drove to the next town and rushed her into the ER. Garrett and Tara clung to each other as they waited to hear Riley’s fate. A team of doctors and nurses swarmed her, and Garrett knew there was nothing more he could do but console her sister and count the minutes.
Riley blinked,feeling the heaviness of her body. Machines beeped, and a mask pumped oxygen and covered her face, annoying the hell out of her. Her hand reached up to remove it when Garrett’s hand gently stopped her.
Riley’s gaze searched the room, not recalling what happened after she made peace with her death. Garrett saved Tara, and that’s all that mattered to her.
“You can’t remove it quite yet,” he explained softly through tear-filled eyes. “Tara’s asleep on the couch. We’re taking turns watching over you. Jameson bet her twenty bucks you’d wake up on her shift. We’ll have to pretend because she’s exhausted and I’m letting her sleep.”
Riley blinked. Her chest felt like a truck had run over her, and she briefly felt guilty for the bikers she mowed down while getting to Tara. She tried to speak, but her body felt weak, and the words refused to form.
“Here,” Garrett handed her a pen and a piece of paper. “Write it out,” he suggested.
The letters appeared sloppy as she wrote, ‘Dad.’
“They recovered his body a few hours ago. I asked Jameson to identify him, and he brought this back.” He held up her mom’s necklace. “I’m sorry, Riley. We were lucky to save the two of you.”
Tears flooded her eyes as she wrote, ‘I killed.’
Garrett covered her hand and took away the pen. “He signed his death warrant the moment he made a deal with Kenny. I knew the man a long time ago when he tried to roast me alive in my grandfather’s house. As for the others, nobody will miss them.”
Riley closed her eyes, her body already weary from the brief interaction. She felt Garrett lean over her and press a tender kiss to her forehead.
They somehow survived and the monster in her dreams no longer lived to hurt her sister. She and Tara got a second chance to have a life without glancing over their shoulders. Riley let sleep overtake her, not wanting to think about Garrett and what she owed him. How much does someone pay for a life?
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
Two weeks later
Rachel and Rebecca helped Riley into the cabin. “I don’t understand why you won’t stay with one of us,” Rachel grumbled. “You’re as stubborn as a mule.”
“I’m on the mend, and the doctor said I can go home,” Riley reminded her for the hundredth time. “Tara will be with me. It’s not like I’m alone.”
“Do you see her here?” Rachel exclaimed, setting her flowers on the kitchen table.
“She’s a teen. Tell me how many you know who want to stay cooped up in the hospital?” Riley said, laughing and holding her ribs. “Ouch.”
“You deserve it,” Rachel said, plumping the pillows while Rebecca filled the fridge with premade meals.
“Have you spoken with Garrett?” Rachel asked her, pointing toward the couch.
