Page 22 of Stay Little Fighter

It’s a harsh reality, one I’m not ready to accept, but what’s the point in burying my head in the sand if these are my last hours on earth?

The sun peeked over the horizon a little while ago, the tiny window on the other side of the basement reminding us that she’ll be back soon.

We haven’t spoken about her threat, haven’t so much as mentioned Damon will be marrying her in just a few hours.

And we definitely haven’t spoken about the fact that once he says “I do,” she’ll have no reason to keep me alive.

My usefulness ends the moment he signs on the dotted line.

I nestle my face in the crook of his neck, desperately seeking his warmth.

“You’re awake,” he murmurs.

I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep, but that’s not exactly surprising. Although the bleeding has slowed, it hasn’t stopped, and there’s a good chance an infection is setting in.

“Don’t marry her,” I whisper.

“If it’s a choice between her hurting you and marrying her, I’m going to choose the option that keeps you safe, Duchess.” His voice is pained.

“You’re a fool if you think she’s going to let me live.”

He sucks in a breath, clinging to me as tight as I am to him and I revel in the pain his hard grip brings. Because for now, I’m alive. For now, I’m with the boy that got away.

“She knows while I’m alive, she doesn’t have a chance of having all of you, and that’s all she’s ever wanted.”

“She just wants the power.”

“No, she wants you, D. And she doesn’t want to share you.”

“I’ll keep you safe, Duchess. I promise.”

I sigh. He’s not seeing the writing on the wall, and the last thing I want to do is burst his bubble when we have such a short time to enjoy one another. To make up for the years we’ve lost.

“Damon, I need you to do a few things for me.”

“Chloe,” he growls.

“Please just listen,” I whisper. “I need you to make sure they’re okay. I know you hate them. I know Ryker gets on your nerves and you think Kingston killed your mom, but I need you to make sure they don’t get themselves killed. I need you to make sure Ronan doesn’t lose himself.”

He sucks in a harsh breath but lets me continue.

“And I need you to find happiness. Even if it’s with her. I need you to be happy, Damon. I need you to stop living for everyone else and enjoy the life you have left. For me.”

A harsh sob rumbles through his chest as his grip on me tightens, as if holding me will stop the inevitable from becoming true.

“Please don’t do this, Chloe. Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave us,” he chokes as his tears fall against my throat.

“I don’t think I’m going to have a choice.” I don’t bother wiping my own tears away as they slip down my cheeks, not when I have to get this out. Not when Mikayla could get here any minute.

“They’re coming for us.”

“I’m running out of time. How long do you think I can go with an untreated bullet wound before sepsis kicks in? Before I’ve lost so much blood that my organs start to shut down?”

“We have time.”

“No, we don’t, and that’s okay. Even if it was for a little while, I got to have the four pieces of my heart together, and that’s enough. If I can’t have forever, this was enough.”

A violent shiver radiates through my body, and I burrow deeper into his arms. Unfortunately for me, this isn’t the first time I’ve felt cold to the bones, and it’s certainly not a feeling I wanted to feel ever again.