Chapter 49 Sierra
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
sierra
Ibraced myself for the white-hot pain of bullets, squeezing my eyes as though accepting my fate.
The sound of three gunshots echoed through the forest, but the pain never came.
My eyes flew open just as my father’s body crumpled to the ground, the tang of blood and smoky smell of gunpowder mixing in the air.
Relief flooded over me as I ran my hands over my body, checking for any signs of blood or wounds.
Nothing. Nothing hurt. I was safe.
It’s over. It’s okay. Everything is—
“Two-six-three to control.” An officer spoke into his radio. “Shots fired. Suspect is deceased. Person down. A civilian. We need immediate assistance.”
A civilian?
My vision focused on the additional body in front of me.
Hayden.
Lying still on the ground a few feet in front of me was Hayden.
No, no, no.
He’d put himself between me and the gun. Why would he do that?
My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground, crawling over to him. The world around me blurred, hot tears staining my cheeks.
Blood marred the fabric of his shirt near his shoulder, but I had no idea where the exit wound was or if there even was one. My hands searched his body, trying to find the place where I could stop the bleeding.
There was so much blood.
“Hayden!” I cried out.
He didn’t say anything, eyelids fluttering as his mouth opened and closed like he was trying to say something. He rasped out a barely audible, “Skip,” then his eyes closed.
“No! Hayes, come on. Wake up. Stay with me! Please,” I begged, hunched over Hayden’s motionless body, tears both staining my cheeks and dripping onto his face. “You can’t leave. Please. You told me you wouldn’t leave. You said you’d be right there waiting for me to come back! You promised!”
A sob ripped itself from my chest. “I’m sorry! Please, don’t leave me.”
This was all my fault. If we hadn’t gotten into that argument, if I hadn’t left, this wouldn’t have happened.
Strong arms lifted me away from the body, even though I kicked and screamed and fought against them.
Eventually, my limbs stopped moving from fatigue.
Lights flashed and sirens blared around us. Someone’s radio crackled near me, Roy’s, or maybe the other officer’s. But I was numb. All I could think about was Hayden.
I’m sorry.
I couldn’t protect you.
I’m sorry.
I love you.
My heart poured out all the things I didn’t get to say to him.
I’m sorry.
I failed you.