Page 96 of Ruining Him

Dare is on the floor next to me, his stuttered breathing barely audible, and I climb to my knees beside him.

“Dare?” My voice is barely a whisper as I look down in horror, seeing the blood seeping through his shirt. Seeing the holes. Seeing the bullet wounds.

“Dare,” I say, more urgently now.

“Lana,” he rasps, his eyes pleading with mine. “You need t-to know.”

I shake my head, not wanting to hear it. Whatever he’s going to tell me, he’s doing because he thinks he’s about to die.

He can’t fucking die.

I can’t lose him, too.

“Shhh. It’s okay. You’re going to be okay.”

He shakes his head, barely. “The reason he didn’t tell you… he just wanted to protect you. T-that’s all he ever wanted. He wanted to spare you the pain.”

Sharp breaths leave me, and I shake my head as he closes his eyes.

“No, Dare. Don’t you dare close your eyes.”

I place my hands against the wounds, trying to stop the bleeding, but it’s coming too quickly. There’s too much blood. I shakily place my fingers on his pulse point, and a cry escapes me.

No no no no.

“Don’t you dare die on me.”

Dare.

You can’t leave me.

Everyone always leaves me. I can’t lose you, too.

“I’m so fucking sorry.”

Why does everyone around me die?

This is my fault.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He’s here because of me.

He’s dead because of me.

No.

It’s not only because of me.

My head lifts slowly, and I lock eyes with Callum, who’s being held in place by Logan. I can see Cole next to me from the corner of my eye, but I don’t pay him any attention. I can’t take my eyes off of Callum.

Heis the reason my brothers and mom died.

Heis the reason my dad died.

Heis the reason I’m here.

Heis the reason Dare is dead.