Page 114 of Playing With Danger

Be alive.

Nothing.

I heard the screeching of tires. Pounding of feet. All of it in a distant haze.

The thread that had been holding me together snapped.

I dropped my forehead to Sophie’s.

“I love you, Soph.”

“Ambo, one minute out,” Drake called in.

One minute, Sophie.

Please come back to me.

I watched in horror as Logan and Luke put pressure on her wounds.

But the blood just kept on flowing.

And with it, my soul bled out.

30

“I love you, Soph.”

I love you, too.

I wanted to open my eyes but they were too heavy.

“I love you, baby.”

My eyes fluttered open and wooziness hit my stomach.

My hand lifted, warm lips pressed onto my palm, and the sweetest words I’d ever heard floated through the air.

“There’s my Sophie.”

I didn’t know where “there” was, but wherever it was I never wanted to leave. I wanted to stay right there where it was warm and soft next to Valentine.

“I love you.” My throat felt scratchy and raw but still I needed to tell him. “I want to stay where you are.”

“Always, Sophie. Always.”

Okay, good.

Always.

My eyes floated closed and the darkness pulled me under before I realized I hadn’t seen him.

Bright light assailed my vision and pain blistered through me.

“Oh my God.” I swallowed past the pain. “Hurts.”

“Shh, baby, I’ll get the nurse.”

My eyes slid to the side and landed on a black t-shirt. It felt like it took a year for my gaze to travel to his face and when it did, my pain intensified.

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