Page 68 of When We Fall: Part Two

“You have weapons?” I looked at Ryder and Trent, who both pulled out guns. That was a good enough answer for me. “Stay alive.”

I rushed to the back door and kicked it open, my gun out.

The smoke was thick and fucked with my head as I crouched and tried to step over the bodies, my hope fading with each step. There were so many dead and injured. I swallowed my fear and pushed onward.

I pulled the trigger and shot a few men, but the chaos still erupted around us.

Fuck, what a mess.

The place was trashed. The floor was slick with blood. Bodies were strewn about. Flames licked the ceiling in some areas.

And then I saw her.

My songbird.

Sprawled on the floor in a pool of blood, her white dress no longer white.

I stumbled and slid in the mess of blood and bodies as I tried to get to her, Ryder and Trent on my heels, protecting my back.

“LeeLee,” I choked out, scooping her limp body into my arms. “Fuck. No. Goddamn it! Baby, please…” I’d only felt terror like this three times in my life, and two of those times were with her.

There was no way we were staying behind. The screams were deafening around us.

Trent shot a few men, Ryder helping, as we made our way back the way we came.

With one arm, I carried Rosalie, shooting anyone in a black ski mask.

I had no idea where the horsemen were. There was no way in hell I’d be able to find them in that mess with Rosalie in my arms, but I knew I needed to try.

“Is she alive?” Ryder demanded as we got outside to my car.

I pressed my shaking fingers to her pulse point on her neck and felt her heart fluttering lightly.

I nodded, my throat tight.

Fuck, she was a mess.

“I-I need to get her to the hospital,” I said, putting her into the front seat.

“What about Dad?” Trent asked, his eyes wide. “He helped last time?—”

“No. She-She might die. The guys… Fuck.”

“Go. I’ll take her,” Ryder said. “If she fucking lives and her guys are dead, we’re all fucked, man. She’ll die with them.”

I nodded, knowing it was true. I had to find Fox first and foremost.

“I’m staying,” Trent said.

“No. Go. Be with her. She-She’ll be scared. I’ll be fine. Keep her alive.”

“Anson—”

“Trent, please. She’s my whole fucking world. I-I need to save hers so she doesn’t leave me.”

He nodded and got into the backseat. I tossed Ryder my keys, and he climbed behind the wheel.

I leaned into the window and crushed my lips against Rosalie’s bloodied ones, not knowing if it were the last time I’d ever see her alive again.