Undone (St Jude’s #4)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

A s I feel my life ebb away, I’m not afraid. Fear isn’t in my DNA. And even as warmth spreads over my chest and abdomen, and my vision blurs, I smile. I’ve always believed that to die with a smile is to transcend fear. Death is not an end, but a symbol of bravery. And as I take my final breaths, I know I have fulfilled my purpose. They will be safe now. Nobody will hurt them.

“You don’t get to leave me! Hold on!” A voice calls out to me, begging me to hold on, but I can feel myself slipping into the darkness. The loss of blood dulls my senses leaving me weak and dizzy. “Listen to me!" they shout, but their words are muffled by the ringing in my ears. “We need an ambulance. Call 9-1-1, damn it!”

The warmth feels good, and I want to lean into it. To welcome it. Because somehow, I know there’ll be peace on the other side. No more sadness, no more destruction, just peace. I deserve that.

I close my eyes.

As my world goes black, a single thought fills my mind. “Keep her safe.”