Page 113 of BounBound By Scars

Why was he crying like that?

Everything was fine now.

The pain was gone.

Why was he making a bigdealoutof this?

TWENTY-SIX

Kabir

Blood soaked through the fabric of my jacket like water through paper. Too fast. Too much.

Her lips trembled, her lashes fluttered like she was trying to stay with me. Her gaze found mine—clouded, soft, trusting. That look alone shattered me. It was love, even now. Even like this.

I had no idea what I was saying to her. To make sure she kept her eyes on me. Kept looking at me with that love that had seemed unbreakable just minutes ago.

It was now ebbing away alongside the blood pouring out of her. Too much blood.

Then suddenly her eyes blanked. She looked resigned—at peace.

No.

My tears dripped on my blood soaked hand. The hand that was pressed against her chest.

I was chanting. Praying. Saying something I had no clue about when her eyes drifted shut.

No, no, no!

“Shadow. Titan,” I rasped into the comms again, hands shaking as I adjusted the pressure. “Come in. Fuck!”

Delara’s voice finally came through. “Sorry, Cipher. West exit. Car’s waiting. Black convertible.”

I nodded, though no one could see it. My hands were slick with her blood.

“You hear that,Heer?”I leaned down, my lips brushing her forehead lightly. “We’ve got a way out. You’re gonna be okay. You’ll be okay.”

But she didn’t respond. She was too still.

I felt her pulse with trembling fingers—still there, but weak. Shit. Her heart had to be intact based on the entry point, but we were losing time. I tore the jacket tighter around her chest, binding it as best I could to slow the bleeding. Elevate. Compress. Don’t fucking cry anymore.

Too late.

Tears ran unchecked down my face, dropping onto her cheeks. My sob hitched. I hadn’t cried in years. Not like this.

“Stay,” I whispered brokenly. “Please. I’m not done loving you.”

I lifted her into my arms, gripping her like a lifeline as I carried her toward the West exit. The hallways blurred past. Every step felt too slow. My legs didn’t feel like mine. My brain was static. Just her. Just her breath. Just her heartbeat. Please.

The night air hit me like a slap. A man held out the keys to the convertible. He didn’t look like the valet—a massive scar stood out on his cheekbone, down his jaw.

I didn’t question it.

Securing Lia in the passenger seat of the car, I lowered her seat so she was reclined, jacket still pressed tight to her wound. I kissed her forehead, whispered something—I didn’t even know what.

Then I jumped into the driver’s seat, slammed the door, and peeled out of the White House driveway.

That’s when I saw the headlights.