Page 155 of See You Maybe

Olivia’s legs collapsed beneath her, and she fell to the ground. “No!” White-hot agony lanced through her chest before the sound ripped from her throat again. “No! No!”

Her ears rung, and her head was spinning. She needed to move. Declan could still… Her feet and hands scrabbled beneath her as she raced for the stairs, oblivious to the bloody footprints she left in her wake. “Declan,” she screamed. He could still… Her heart hoped, even as her brain tried to reason.

Sobs tore from her as she slipped, tumbling down the last two steps. Strong hands caught her shoulders, and then Declan’s face was in front of her, streaked with blood. His mouth was moving, but her brain wouldn’t engage.

Olivia launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and clinging to his neck like a spider monkey.

He was alive. It was all that mattered.

Declan buried his face in her neck. “Are you all right?” His hands ran over her hair, pulling her head back so he could inspect her face.

“I thought...” Her voice broke.

Declan exhaled hard against her, his body shuddering. He held her against him, burying one hand in her hair and planting the other in the middle of her back.

“Clear.” A voice shouted, and then Rhodes appeared, with his gun drawn low and blood running from a cut on his forehead. He charged past them, giving them a cursory look before proceeding farther into the house. Another man grabbed Declan’s collar and spun him, with Olivia still attached, propelling them through what used to be her front door.

“Our vehicle is still operational.” She heard a voice bark.

They were almost at the back door of the SUV when Olivia heard a whimper. Pulling her head back, her head swiveled until she saw Oscar limping across the front yard.

Following her eyes, Rhodes scooped her puppy up as Declan deposited her in the back of the car.

“He’s all right, ma’am. Minor cut on his paw.”

The doors slammed, and they raced away. Declan pulled her into his lap as she clutched Oscar to her chest. Olivia was conscious of Declan’s arms tight around both her and the puppy, keeping them both secure, as the SUV rocketed away from her neighborhood.

Questions volleyed back and forth, but Olivia closed her eyes and rested her head against Declan’s chest, finding comfort in his galloping heartbeat that matched the pace of hers.

“Do we need a hospital?” the man in the front asked.

“Petal?” His breath ruffled her hair. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, not sure she could manage the actual words. Declan’s voice rumbled under her cheek. “Secure my family, and get us to the airport. Have the plane triple-checked.”

They waited in the SUV, inside the airplane hangar, for what felt like forever. They were alone. The man in the driver’s seat had glanced over his shoulder, and when he saw her shivering in just Declan’s T-shirt, he had cranked the heat all the way up and immediately exited.

Olivia still shivered, but she wasn’t sure it was from the cold.

“You’re bleeding.” Declan’s voice sounded detached, and alarm shot through her.

“Don’t do that.” Olivia shifted in his lap, lifting her head. Oscar squirmed to get free, and she let him hop to the floor. She turned so that her knees were on either side of his hips, and she sat on his thighs, facing him.

Declan’s face was like stone, except for the muscle ticking in his jaw. “Don’t leave me.” Olivia grabbed his jaw, forcing him to look at her.

His voice was as tight as the tendons in his neck. “I’m right here, Olivia.”

“You know what I mean.”

His nostrils flared, and he gave his head a slight shake. “You could have been killed.”

“It was your car.” She pointed out. Olivia glared at him. “Stop it.” His eyes flicked down to meet hers. “You are pulling away. I can feel it.” Emotion clouded his eyes, and she squeezed his jaw harder, her eyes refusing to let him look away. “You promised you wouldn’t leave. I’m here and in this with you. So don’t fucking leave me.”

For a long silent moment, Olivia thought she hadn’t gotten through, but then the corner of his mouth lifted.

“You are awfully bossy for someone who’s sitting on my lap, bleeding all over my favorite suit.”

Suppressing a relieved sigh, Olivia glanced down at the multitude of tiny cuts on her legs and feet. She sniffed. “I think that’s the least of your sartorial problems.” One hand toyed with the shredded fabric of his pant leg.

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