32. Sienna
Sienna
T he SUV slam sideways across the ridge hard enough dirt and gravel explode around it.
Doors fly open before the vehicles fully stop moving.
Two men step out already armed.
Already scanning.
Controlled violence wrapped in tactical gear.
Cal Johnson.
Lance Levine.
Both move like predators who learned patience the hard way.
Their eyes sweep the tree line once before locking onto us.
Then onto Jonah.
Everything changes instantly.
“What the hell did you walk into?” Cal snaps while moving toward us.
“Long story,” Ronan shoots back. “Need exfil now.”
Lance reaches us first.
His eyes hit the blood soaking through Jonah’s shirt and his entire expression hardens.
“How bad?”
“Bad.”
The word tears out of me instantly.
“Move.”
Neither of them hesitates.
Not even for a second.
Lance grabs Jonah’s arm while Ronan shifts positions and together they haul him toward the nearest vehicle fast enough my heart nearly stops every time Jonah stumbles.
Stay awake.
Please stay awake.
The back door flies open.
They shove Jonah inside.
I climb in right after him without thinking.
My hands press hard against the wound immediately.
Blood floods through my fingers again.
Too much.
Still too much.
“Stay with me,” I whisper desperately.
Jonah’s eyes flicker open halfway.
Barely.
“Still here…”
The weak attempt at humor almost destroys me.
“Don’t you dare leave.”
Tears blur my vision so badly I can barely see the wound anymore.
“You do not get to die after everything we just survived.”
He tries to smile.
Fails halfway through it.
“Bossy…”
“Shut up.”
A sob catches hard in my throat while I press harder against the bleeding.
“Just stay with me.”
Outside, Cal jumps into the driver’s seat while Lance climbs into the passenger side already barking coordinates into the comm.
“Go, go, GO!”
The SUV launches forward violently.
Tires spin.
Mud sprays.
The mountains blur outside the windows as we tear down the ridge at dangerous speed.
Inside the vehicle, Jonah’s head falls briefly against my shoulder.
Too heavy.
Too still.
Fear claws violently through my chest.
“Jonah.”
My voice breaks completely this time.
His eyes open again.
Barely.
But enough.
Enough to keep me breathing too.
And for the first time since this nightmare started—
I realize losing him would destroy me.