Page 88 of Emerald

“Jasha took one in the leg,” he says. “But nobody’s dead.”

“Good,” I say. I’m relieved, or at least I know I should be relieved. But I can’t feel anything but terror until I know Sloane is alright.

Dom roars up in his SUV, kicking gravel across our feet.

Efrem opens the back door and I get inside with Sloane still in my arms.

Dom speeds toward the hospital, taking corners so fast that all four wheels are barely staying on the road.

I’m trying to stroke Sloane’s hair, trying to comfort her.

She looks up at me, still smiling a little.

“Thanks for coming to get me,” she says.

“I’ll always come for you,” I tell her. “I love you, Sloane.”

I’ve never said those words in my life. Not to anyone.

“I love you, too,” she says, tilting up her chin to kiss me.

“Have you ever said that before?” I ask her.

She laughs.

“No,” she says. “I never have. But I like it.”

“Me too,” I say.

I kiss her again.

“Wait,” she says, pulling back. “I have to ask you one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Did you kill that guy who looked like a linebacker?”

“The one with the smirk?”

“Yes!”

“Oh yeah, I shot him.”

“Good,” she says, nodding with satisfaction. “I hated that guy.”

“What was his deal? He was worse than Remizov.”

“Seriously.”

Sloane laughs, and then winces. The shirt pressed against her back is almost soaked through.

“Hurry, Dom,” I say to my brother.

“We’re almost there,” Dom says.

I kiss Sloane again, because she can’t go anywhere as long as I’m kissing her.

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