Page 91 of Bleeding Hearts

“Get both of them,” one hisses.

Backing up, I throw my arms wide, protecting Alice as they withdraw their guns and aim them at us. Rain soaks me as I stare down their barrels.

“Not her!” I yell. “I’m the one you want. Aim them at me.”

“Lally!” Alice screams behind me, and I glance back with a smile on my lips, happy to see her even if it’s like this.

“I love you,” I tell her as they move closer.

“Stop!” another voice yells, and I turn around as Leo steps from behind a tree, his phone out and light on. “I’m live streaming this too.”

“And me!” More people appear, running across the campus to get to us.

“Are you going to kill all of us and cover it up? There are too many of us!” someone yells as I gape at the growing crowd, recognizing faces.

They are people who competed in Risk.

“Lals.” A hand fists the back of my shirt and drags me into the crowd as the police look around, hesitating.

“How?” I whisper to those around me.

“Leo was live streaming it all, so we came to help.”

Just as easy as the crowd turned on us in the game, they turn on the police now, protecting me. A surge of righteous anger and safety radiates around me.

Alice shows me her phone, and I see it’s streaming all over the world. Just then, lights flood the campus, and I glance up to see a news helicopter above us. It blinds me for a moment, and I cover my face before dropping my arm and looking at the select number of cops.

“Let’s get out of here,” one mutters, and they pile into their cars and speed away. The crowd cheers, celebrating around us, but I turn to Alice.

Her face is dripping wet, and I wipe the water away as I gaze down at her. “What were you thinking?” I ask.

“I was thinking that I love you and I can’t live without you. You promised you would be a coward.” She sniffles. “You lied.”

“I’m sorry.” I bite back my tears as she stares up at me. “I had to do this. I couldn’t put you in harm’s way.”

“I know. Look around, Lally. You’re a hero. Tommy would be so proud of you. I know I am.” She leans up and kisses me as therain continues to fall and more blue lights flood the area. “But if you ever do that again, I’ll kill you myself, okay?”

“Okay,” I whisper as we lunge for each other, holding each other as more police than I’ve ever seen secure the area.

This time, they are on our side.

Someone yanks me, and I turn to see Bones, Skylar, Evan, and Alek. They are all wet and out of breath. “Lally.” Evan wraps his arms around me, and my tears fall harder as I hold him. When we pull apart, Alek drags me into a hug, along with his sister.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Skylar says. “Team Gay would be boring without you.”

“Me too.” I laugh, and when Alek pulls back, I swear I see him discreetly wipe his eyes.

“We are moving to the middle of nowhere, and I’m locking everyone up so no one can get hurt anymore,” he mutters as he looks at us. “We have a lot to talk about.”

“I know.” I take Alice’s hand, smiling at her. “Senator Kellen won’t let this go. He might come for me.”

“Let him. You have a family right here that’s willing to protect you,” Alek snaps, and Evan nods.

“He won’t touch either of you,” he promises.

“I know people.” Skylar shrugs casually.

“I can get us off murder charges,” Bones adds.