“The gun!” Dante shouts.
She raises it, bloody fingers tightening on the trigger, and I don’t hesitate.
BAM.
Her body jerks and crumples.
I walk up to her. Stare down at what’s left; there are no tears left for Bryn, not anymore.
Not after what she did.
“Knox!” Max’s voice breaks.
I spin, and my heart shatters.
He’s on the ground, sprawled on his back. Blood everywhere. Soaking into the dirt. His chest is rising too fast and shallow.
“No.” My legs give as I drop beside him. “No, no, no, no, Knox—”
His head turns, eyes fluttering until they lock onto mine.
“You never obey a fucking order, pet.” He grins weakly, lips stained red.
“Don’t talk, save your strength.” I hold his face, blood covering my hands. “Please, I couldn’t save you,”
“You saved me the day you stayed, Aspen,” he whispers, breath hitching. “You gave me… us, something we never had. That’s more than I ever,”
“Shut up,” I sob, rocking into him. “You don’t get to say goodbye. You don’t—”
Ryker drops beside us, silent tears streaking his face, hands shaking but reaching for Knox’s.
Max’s breathing is rough behind me, and when I glance back, he’s crying too.
“This can’t be happening,” Max whispers.
Ryker clutches Knox’s shoulder like if he just holds tighter, it’ll all go back.
Dante’s just standing there.
I curl over Knox’s body and kiss his forehead.
“I’m here,” I whisper.
He’s fading.
I can feel it, beneath my hands, in the way his skin chills beneath my touch, in the way his breath rattles through blood and pain and too much silence.
“Stay with me, Knox,please,” I’m shaking, sobbing, holding hisface between my hands.
Then, with a breath so shallow I almost miss it, he turns his head.
“Dante,” he rasps.
Dante steps closer, jaw locked, fighting back everything he won’t say.
“You’re in charge now,” Knox murmurs. “Keep them safe.”
“No,” Dante growls, shaking his head like he can push it all away, but Knox doesn’t flinch.
