Page 93 of Embrace the Darkness

I took it and put it to my ear, expecting it to be Stefan. “Hello?”

There was a sigh of relief on the other end. “Maura.” Jamie’s deep voice reached all the way to my soul, soothing it with relief.

Shots went off and bullets embedded in the metal door. Glass sprayed out as the small window shattered. Dean and Asher took cover against the concrete wall. They both released the clips on their guns, going over how much ammo they had left. It was obvious they didn’t think the door was going to hold.

“Maura!” Jamie yelled, pulling my attention back to the phone.

“We can’t hold them off,” I said, voice strangely calm.

“I’m coming, baby.” He tried to sound just as calm, but I could still hear his fear. He wasn’t going to make it in time.

More shots rang out, cementing that realization. I did my best to tune them out as I let my feelings and regrets for the man on the phone come to the surface.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out.

“Maura—”

“You asked me what had changed—what was really keeping us apart and the truth is…I was scared.” Tears I hadn't known were forming fell from my eyes. “I’ve loved you since we were kids and I haven’t stopped loving you. It’s only grown deeper. When I saw you with Angela, I realized you held my heart. You have the power to hurt me beyond repair and that scared me. I wish I could go back and yell at myself. Make me face my fear instead of running away from it because that would have meant I could have spent these last few days with you.” I sniffled and closed my blurry eyes. The shooting had stopped, but there was banging and the sound of metal scraping. Dean and Asher were cursing and yelling as they fought to keep the door closed.

“I’m almost—” Jamie’s words were cut off as shots went off from within the room, making me flinch.

Time was up.

“I love you, Jamie.”

To Be Continued…