Page 210 of The Darkest Chase

Doesn’t she get it?

This is who I am!

It’s the moment I’ve lived for, watching Xavier suffer the way he deserves, struggling under me, the satisfaction of watching his life drain away and his face turning purple, then blue. Yes.

“…Micah.”

Fuck.

I jerk my head up, looking at her, and my heart stops.

She’s blue in the face, wheezing, on the verge of passing out. Her inhaler’s nowhere in sight, her hands and feet bound so she couldn’t reach it even if she had it.

Damn.

I have to make a choice.

The man I hate, or the woman I love.

Really, it’s no choice at all.

I fling myself off Xavier and tumble over to Talia, slipping my arms under her and lifting her up.

“Talia? Talia—Shortcake—hold on for me. Breathe. Count. You remember how? Fucking breathe for me, woman!”

She looks up through wet eyes, her crimson hair spilling over me like she’s bleeding out.

She smiles.

Her eyes close.

And then she stops breathing completely.

Anguish erupts out of me like a gunshot wound.

I frantically press my fingers to her pulse.

It’s there, it’s there, but weaker by the second.

I forget to breathe myself as I lay her down, as I rip the ropes off her, get her prone, then tilt her head back, pinch her nose, bend over her, and seal my mouth to those beautiful lips I don’t deserve.

Breathe!

Forcing air into her lungs, pushing hard, pleading.

Please breathe. Please don’t leave me.

Take my breath.

Take my heart.

Take my life.

Always and forever.

Deep breaths.

Check her pulse.

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