Cole hands the gun to Bruno and holds out his wrists for him. “Want to arrest me?”
“Dude.” Bruno shakes his head, looking amused. “You should’ve shot him in the balls first.”
The others break from their trance and tiptoe around the body. The blood pools around his head in a puddle. Even in his death, they’re afraid to touch him. Afraid he’ll pop up and execute them on the spot for their insurrection.
Cole’s eyes meet mine and I crumble inside. When we embrace, I feel his body shaking.
“How’d you know it was him?” I ask in a quieter voice.
“Babe, all it took was one look at your face and I knew. I saw the pain in your eyes. I felt the hatred.” His hand cups my chin and he kisses my forehead. “I couldn’t bear the thought of him ever hurting you again. Ever.”
“Thank you!”
He squeezes me tightly, almost crushing my ribcage with his strength. I stand with my arms limp, so overwhelmed that nothing comes out—just relishing the comfort of his arms. My legs ache from the bruises and cuts. My hands shake.
I can’t cry, but I can’t rejoice either. I’ve lost so much. Too much.
The man who haunted my every dream lies dead on a filthy floor. I’ll never see his face again but in my dreams. Never have to fear the sound of his voice or the way his eyes could throw daggers into my heart. I can breathe again without fear of him shutting me in a closet or terrorizing everyone I love. But the high price paid for his death reminds me of Keegan.
“Tell me Keegan’s alive.”
Cole puts his hands on his head, averting his eyes, and says, “I don’t know.”
I push against him and run to where I last saw Keegan. Bruno’s men surround him. His blood washes over their fingers as they put pressure on his wound. His ashen face is drawn tight and his lips are almost white, yet his eyes are aware and full of uncertainty. He gasps for air as I kneel next to him.
“Oh my God, Keegan.” I clasp his hand and lean over his face, meeting his blue eyes. “Just hang in there. Help will be here soon.”
“Stay with me,” he manages to choke out before blood fills his mouth. He begins coughing uncontrollably and gasps for breath.
“Why aren’t you doing anything?” I scream. “Help him!” I grab the closest man’s shirt and plead. “Please.”
Cole wraps his arm around my shoulder, and with tears in his eyes, he says, “Just talk to him, Lexi. There’s nothing they can do. Be strong for him.”
I compose myself, even as tears stream over my cheekbones and my body shakes. I put his head in my lap as his eyes rest on mine. “I’m so sorry.”
He gurgles, shifts uncomfortably, and gathers his strength. “Live for me… I love you.” His chest falls, and he coughs violently. The crimson blood drips from the corners of his mouth.
My insides panic, and my heart feels like it’s collapsing in on itself. “I promise. I love you too, Keegan. I’ll keep fighting for the both of us.”
He takes one last breath before his whole body goes limp and his eyes give a blank stare. I feel his spirit, once lively and determined, drift away. I begin sobbing. “Damn it, why him? Why now? I wasn’t ready to lose him.”
The other men step back a moment, giving me some privacy. I feel like a piece of myself was ripped out of my chest. Another part of me is dead.
“Cole, we gotta go.” A voice interrupts the moment and I glance at Cole’s face. He gives me a look of regret and stands, holding out his arms for me.
I close Keegan’s eyes and kiss his forehead one last time as my tears drip onto his pale face. Then I reach up and fall into Cole’s arms.
Bruno and the others heft Keegan’s body up and I watch, feeling numb, as they carry him out.
Cole rests his chin on my head. “We have to leave. The revolt failed to liberate the Hole.”
CHAPTER 22
My hopes crash violently to the floor. We failed. I’m suddenly exhausted, and my knees give way. Cole catches me under the arms and lifts me up, carrying me out of the control room. My last view is of my stepfather’s lifeless form, bleeding out next to the doorway.
Cole breathes hard as he carries me down the steep staircase and back into the hall where Keegan and I walked only minutes ago. I see bodies stretched out everywhere, lying in unnatural positions. Heat rushes up my back and straight to my head, making me woozy. I press my face to his chest and close my eyes. I feel him lifting his legs as he steps over the bodies, and I hear his boots squeal on the floor, slick from blood.
“We’re almost out. Just a little farther, okay?” he says.