Page 82 of Dismantle & Prevail
“Start moving towards the med bay. Where is she hit?” Zoro asks.
Carefully, I lift my body off my girl and my face pales. Crimson red covers the ground, and blood that should never see the light of day covers my hands.
A bright red ring with droplets of blood flow from her right shoulder. And judging by the color of her usually sun-kissed skin, we need to move fast.
“Her shoulder. We need to move. Now.”
I don’t bother looking back at Zoro and slowly stand. I feel a tap on my back and duck my head as a bullet flies overhead.
I make the mistake of wasting a second to look at Taylor’s almost lifeless body and feel bile rising in my throat.
Stop it, Aries. Get her out of here. Now.
Bending down, I whisper, “I’m sorry, Butterfly. This is going to hurt.”
As soon as my hands move to her side, she lets out a cry that sends shivers up my spine and somewhere behind me, I hear one of my men mutter, “Fuck.”
Tears well in my eyes as I bring Taylor to my chest, her head falling to the side.
“ARIES! Move now. Doc is in there.”
Slowly, so I don’t jostle her too much, I tuck her tighter against my chest. My head moves to hers as we shuffle towards the med bay door. “Stay with me. I can’t lose you.”
A hand on my shoulder stops me from advancing and I curse under my breath as gunshots echo throughout the Clubhouse.
Taylor’s light eyes flutter open and my stomach sinks. They are full of pain and guilt smacks me in the face.
“I love you, Ace.”
My voice is weak and no more than a whisper.
“No. Don’t you dare tell me that right now. This is not goodbye. You are not leaving me.”
A weak smile spreads across her face as a single tear cascades down her face.
More gunshots ring out and my head whips in every direction, confused why we aren’t moving. And then I see it. A group of masked assholes are blocking the door to the med bay.
Anger rises in my chest and I move to pull my gun out of its holster at my waist, when a cold hand on my cheek stops me.
My gaze darts down and I see Taylor’s glassy eyes staring up at me. “Say it back, please.”
“No.” My voice cracks and tears stream down my face.
“Yes.”
“No.”
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Her eyes narrow. “Yes.”
I can’t help but laugh at her stubbornness shining through, even in her current state. “No. I’ve been dying to hear those words come out of your mouth for eternity..”
“So dramatic. It hasn’t been that long, you big b-baby.” Taylor’s words are almost unrecognizable as her eyes fight to stay open, but I swear I hear a faint chuckle.
My foot slips as I pivot and I glance down, my face going pale at the puddle of blood on the ground.
And it’s not blood from the enemy who threatens to plunge my soul into eternal darkness. It’s from the girl who is the wind beneath my cut as I fly down the road on a hot summer day.
