Page 116 of Dirty Cowboy

Nothing.

No, no, no.

“Emma,” I whisper. I press my mouth to hers, breathing air into her lungs.

“Come on, baby. Breathe for me.”

I start compressions, pressing against her chest, and counting out loud like it will somehow keep me grounded.

One. Two. Three. Four.

Blood stains her sweatshirt, spreading across her stomach in an angry, seeping wound.

Fuck.

I press harder. My hands shake, and my chest os tight with panic.

“Come on, Ems,” I plead, my voice cracking. “Come back to me.”

I keep going.

Memories flash behind my eyes—Emma laughing in the sunflower field, teasing me at the bar, pressing her lips to mine in the soft glow of the firelight. All the moments I should have cherished more. All the time I wasted lying to her, pushing her away, when all I wanted was to keep her close.

I can’t lose her.

“Please,” I whisper, my forehead pressing against hers. “I love you. I love you so damn much.”

I breathe into her again, willing her to respond, willing her to wake up.

“Don’t leave me.” My voice breaks. “Don’t you dare leave me now.”

A sob rips through my chest. My hands curl into fists, pressing against her cold skin.

Then—

A faint sputter.

Emma’s body jerks as she gasps, water spilling from her lips. My breath hitches, and relief crashes into me so hard, I nearly collapse. I quickly turn her on her side and her eyelids flutter, her gaze unfocused, but she’s breathing as she coughs out the water.

“You’re okay,” I whisper, cradling her against me. “I’ve got you.”

The sirens are already closing in, flashing lights bouncing off the trees.

I scoop her into my arms and start running.

I won’t let her go. Not now. Not ever.

Because despite all the lies, mistakes, and broken promises—one thing remains true:

I love her.

And I’ll fight like hell to keep her.

Crisp morning air slaps against my skin as I bolt from Eric’s house, his oversized T-shirt barely shielding me from the cold. My breath comes fast, every inhale sharp against my lungs. My legs burn, my bare feet stinging from the damp ground. But I don’t stop. I can’t stop. The weight of betrayal crushes my chest, pressing down until I can barely breathe.

My brothers lied to me, and Eric went along with it. He deceived me.

The man I loved and trusted, knowingly kept me from my dying father.

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