Beckett fell to his knees. “Ahh…I never thought they’d get you. Never. Fuck.
Debra AnastasiaI can’t leave him here. Not with them. Not in the fucking dirt.” Beckett grabbed his flashlight with every intention of handing it to Eve so he could carry his friend—no matter how fucking big he was—to someplace better, when the light landed on Mouse’s bare chest.
“What the hell?” Beckett touched Mouse’s chest again, and Eve took the light and centered it on the tattoo in question.
Beckett traced it for a moment, his finger lingering on the knitting needles that set it apart from his own, and bowed his head. “Now that’s too fucking much,” he said softly. “That hurts too fucking much. Eve, not Mouse. He can’t be gone.
Listen, Mouse wants us to find Blake,” Eve pleaded. “That’s why he’s pointing. That’s why he took out three assholes on his own like a gladiator. I want to sit and cry. I want to get him in the back of his own hearse and treat him like a goddamn king. But right now, we’re going to finish what he started.”
Beckett stood and nodded. As wrong as it felt, he needed to leave his friend—no, my brother—lying dead here. At least for now.
I’m so ashamed.” Livia felt blood filling her mouth again.
Chris pointed a shaky finger at her. “You should be ashamed. It’s about time.”
“I’m ashamed of you, Chris,” Livia said fiercely. “I’m ashamed I ever let you touch me. I should have saved myself for Blake.” She topped off her statement by heaving bloody spit into Chris’s face.
Look at me. Please.” It was more than a whisper but less than a shout. She got quieter. “Blake, please.”
His green eyes found hers. She spoke as if they were alone.
“I made a mistake,” Livia began. “I know you overheard me talking to my dad. I needed him to understand who you are, but I had to talk on his level. As a father he needed to know I was being decisive. I don’t think you heard the last part when I told him you were the path I wanted to take.”
A flicker. Was it hope? Livia smiled.
Blake’s lips moved, and she knew he’d counted her smile.
“I’ll make mistakes. I know I will,” she continued. “I want to be perfect for you. But I’m human. I can only be me. That probably isn’t enough for a soul as beautiful as yours. But if I hurt you by accident, can’t we stay and hold hands until we fix it? Can’t we fix it?” Livia now spoke louder than she wanted to, but she had to be heard over the cacophony.
Blake bit his lip. “You’re perfect.”
“No, sweetheart. I can’t even pretend to be perfect. Look where we are right now. That’s my fault, Blake.”
Here. I need to tell him now. “Blake, I love you,” Livia confessed quietly.
The tears in her eyes had nothing to do with smoke this time.Livia leaned toward Blake and tried again, louder still.
“Blake, I love you.”
Livia shouted in the silence because now her soul was free. “I love you, Blake!”
She smiled as he mouthed the words back to her.
Livia, when I count to three, I want to you to run into the trees,” Blake whispered. “And keep running. Promise me.” He sounded calm and determined.
“Absolutely not.” Livia turned from their escape route. “I’m never leaving you.”
“Livia, please.” Blake squeezed her hand and tried to force her in the right direction.
She squeezed right back.
When they stumbled together into a clearing, even in their panic the blue moonlight made it ethereal, like a fairy ring. But in the center knelt Livia, counting out compressions.
Beckett stopped in his tracks. “No no no no no no.
Blake rubbed Livia’s cheekbones gently with his thumbs. “I can’t believe you came for me. My brave Livia.” He kissed her lips and looked concerned. “You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine, Blake, but we have to get out of here. Some of Beckett’s enemies are after you.” Livia stroked his bruised face.
“Then why are you out here?” he asked, eyes instantly angry.
Livia gave the perfect answer. “This is the only place I knew I’d get to see you.
His breath was a sucking gasp that sounded more like a draining tub than a man filling his lungs with air. Then she heard him form the words “Play dead.”
So Livia did. She closed her eyes as much as she dared. She could still see outlines through her lashes. She squeezed her hands against Blake’s chest. Hold on, Blake. Stay with me.
But in an instant Blake stepped in front of her, turning his back to Chris and the gun. The shot was so much louder than anything else in the woods. And it seemed to echo forever. Livia watched Blake’s face in horror as he fell toward her, leaning for a moment like the Tower of Pisa. She staggered back, trying to hold him as they both collapsed to the forest floor. Livia knew he was tremendously injured when his body hit hers so hard. If he could have, she knew Blake would’ve softened the blow.
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