Page 14 of Fighting for Lucy

Zander merely nodded, scanning their surroundings then settling his gaze on her.

Thankfully, for her plan to work, shewantedhim to be watching her.

Walking a couple of steps closer to the edge of the cliff, Lucy turned her back on Zander like she had the other times she’d had to pee, and awkwardly shoved her pants down enough that she could do her business.

Once she was done, she dragged in a deep breath, ignored the ache in her chest as she did so, and prayed that this would work.

Pulling her pants up one handed was awkward, and her balance was off because of the head injury and exhaustion, so when she swayed like she was about to topple over it wasn’t that much of an act.

Like she’d hoped he would, Zander sprung toward her to catch her before she fell.

Just as he was about to reach her, Lucy sidestepped, hoping his forward momentum would be too much to counter in time.

Right as he would have tumbled down, rolling over the cliff edge, a crack split through the air.

Somehow, Zander managed to take her down with him as he fell, angling his body so he took the brunt of the impact as they hit the ground.

Sluggish as it was, it took a moment for her brain to process what had just happened.

A gunshot.

Someone had shot at them.

And Zander was trying to protect her.

Unfortunately, it was too little, too late.

Her plan was working. Together, in a tangle of limbs, they rolled the short distance toward the edge of the cliff. Zandermuttered a curse, and then he was shoving her body with a force that sent her tumbling back in the other direction.

The move sent him rolling faster toward the edge.

There was nothing he could do to stop it.

He’d saved her life at the expense of his own.

Lucy cried out in fear and scrambled toward him, praying she could grab onto him in time and stop the inevitable from happening.

But it happened.

In slow motion the bottom half of Zander’s body disappeared. Their eyes connected. There was no condemnation in Zander’s, no anger, no fear either. Instead, there was almost a sense of peace. Like he was ready to welcome death.

Then his head disappeared, and he was just gone.

January 22nd

5:27 P.M.

Pain ricocheted through his body.

Zander groaned as he returned to consciousness.

For a moment, his brain was foggy and unfocused. He couldn’t remember where he was, or what had happened, or why it was that he felt like he’d been run over by a truck.

All he knew was the tickle of fear at the back of his mind.

Something was wrong.

Just because he couldn’t figure out what didn't mean he didn't know he had to. And fast.

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