Page 104 of Always A Villain

Tears blur my vision. I don’t even realize they’re mine until they mix with the blood soaking into her skin.

“I love you, Rory,” I rasp. “Don’t fucking leave me. I need you.”

She can’t die. She can’t. I can feel my world slipping away, blackness closing in around me.

“You’re crushing me,” she mumbles, her voice so faint I almost don’t hear it.

I freeze. My heart stops, then slams back to life.

“Rory.” Her name barely makes it past the lump in my throat.

Her eyes flicker open, blue piercing through the blood smeared across her face. A weak, tired smile tugs at her lips. She lifts a trembling hand, brushing her fingers against my cheek.

“You came for me.”

“Always.” The word catches in my throat. “I’ll always come for you.”

She winces, her whole body trembling. “Axel…it hurts.”

“I know, little siren.” I hold her tighter, feeling her body going limp against me.

Her breaths come shallow, uneven. Too fucking weak. The blood won’t stop. It’s slicking my hands, seeping through my fingers.

“Rory, you can’t die.” My plea is guttural, breaking me apart. “We have a whole damn life ahead of us. Do you hear me?”

She barely nods, her body shuddering. “It hurts,” shewhispers again, a single tear slipping down her cheek. I kiss it away.

I press my lips to her forehead, feeling her breath falter against me. “Stay with me, little siren,” I beg, my chest caving in on itself. “Just stay with me.”

I slam my earpiece.

“GRIFFEN! Where the FUCK is that chopper?!”

“Two minutes,” Griffen bites out.

Two minutes might as well be a lifetime.

“RORY!” Spencer drops to his knees beside us, hands hovering, eyes wide with panic.

“Spence?” Her voice is barely there.

He leans in, forcing a shaky smile, but his fear bleeds through. “Rory…you’re going to be fine, okay? Just…hang in there.”

Her head lolls back against me, her eyelids fluttering.

“I’m…I’m just so tired…”

Grabbing her chin, I force her to look at me. “You don’t get to be tired. Not now. Look at me.”

Her gaze barely holds.

“Tell me where we’re getting married, baby.”

A faint, broken laugh escapes her. “My mom’s villa...”

Her fingers tremble as they brush my face. I catch her hand, grip it tight.

“I love you, Axe,” she whispers, and more tears burn my eyes. “I should’ve told you sooner…but I was afraid.”