Droplets hit her face, my tears mixing with hers.
Taylor’s eyes flutter closed and I feel the air whoosh out of me. “We need to move. She’s fucking dying!”
My grip on Taylor tightens, and my hand briefly moves to my holster.
Not giving it a second thought, I raise my arm and start firing at the men blocking the med bay. And with the added protection of my men and Tucker joining us, I am able to knock down every single piece of shit in my way.
And as the last one falls to the ground, I make a break for it.
Tucker runs at full speed past me and I hear Boone yell something behind me, but I pay no attention. The door flies open and I race inside, lock eyes with Doc, and he signals me to place Taylor on the bed.
Immediately he begins working on her, and I move to the other side of the bed.
My tattooed hands move to grasp her face and tilt it towards me, her eyes slowly opening at the feeling.
“Tell me,” Taylor pleads, her voice straining.
My gaze darts to Doc and I can read the uncertainty on his face, even though he is refusing to look in my direction. He moves rapidly, hooking Taylor up to every machine.
“I’m here. What do you need?” Reagan says as she comes flying into the med bay. Doc immediately puts her to work.
A hand on my face pulls my attention away from Reagan, and Doc and I look at Taylor.
“P-Please Ace,” Taylor begs, her entire body shaking.
Fuck.
Tears rapidly stream down my face, and my forehead falls to rest on hers.
Placing a gentle kiss to her lips, tears clog my voice as I say, “I love you, Hellhound. You are my dreamcatcher. You are the air I breathe and the sunshine in my dark and gloomy world. I love you more than life itself. And I will love you until my last breath. P-Please don’t let that moment be right now. Because there is no me without you.”
Her bright green eyes shine with tears and a weak smile forms on her face. “D-Damn. Never thought I’d see the day Aries Clark cried over a girl.”
Leveling my gaze with hers, I say, “Not just any girl. My girl. My goddamn woman.”
A loud beeping echoes throughout the room and Taylor’s eyes start to flutter closed, a smile still on her face.
“No. Taylor, stay with me,” I shout.
A wince rattles her body, but she manages to keep her hazy gaze locked on mine. “I love you, Ace. Thank you for saving me. I will love you more than this lifetime and far beyond.”
As the words leave her mouth, her eyes fall closed and the machines around her scream.
The world stops spinning, everything fades into the distance and all that is left is a single bright light shining over a lifeless Taylor covered in crimson.
She’s gone.
A blur of motion passes in front of me and I don’t register that Reagan has pushed me out of the way until I’m staring up at Taylor from the ground,
I try to peer around Reagan to catch a glimpse of Taylor, but she and Doc are moving so quickly, it’s pointless.
My back hits the wall and tears cloud my vision as I sink to the floor, my face falling to my knees.
Taylor is gone. She’s leaving this earth because she protected me. This girl that was once a thorn in my side, who stole my money, who is now my life raft and savior, is gone.
And it’s all my fault.
She spent her life protecting others, myself included, and now she is leaving at the mercy of being a hero to someone who doesn’t deserve an ounce of her bravery.
