Christopher
The shot rang out before I could stop myself.I had aimed for Jace Grey. The bastard was dragging her toward the backyard, toward the chopper, toward *his world*.But the moment she jerked back, clutching her chest, I knew.It wasn’t him I’d hit.It was her.The sound around me warped — the gunfire, the shouting, the heavy boots of my men — all drowned under the sound of my own breath ripping in and out of my lungs.She crumpled onto the marble like a ragdoll. Blood — far too much of it — was already spilling between my fingers as I dropped beside her.“Ingrid… Ingrid, stay with me—”Her lashes fluttered weakly. That face — pale, trembling — dragged me back years in an instant.It was raining that night. Alice Grey stood in my study, her hair damp, her hands clutching a blanket so tightly I thought she might crush whatever was inside.She never cried in front of anyone — not eveChapter 101Jace I slid my palm down her bare stomach, feeling her ribs shiver beneath my touch. Stripped of everything, she was fragile in my hands—glass ready to break. And yet, when I pressed closer, when I claimed her mouth with mine, forcing her lips open, she gasped. A sound I clung to like it was salvation.“You feel that?” I muttered against her, tasting salt and water. “You’re still here. With me. Mine.”Rick leaned in close, voice low, dangerous. “If she wants to come back… she’ll remember what it means to breathe for us. To live for us.”Her eyes flickered—pain, fear, something rawer. For a second, I swore she wanted to resist. But then her chest rose against my hand, a desperate, trembling inhale.It was enough to make me strip the last barrier of hesitation left inside me.Her body was limp against me, water lapping at her pale skin, her hair clinging in strands across her face. The steam in the bath was heavy, suffocating, but it wasn’t enough. Not for what she needed.
Chapter 100Jace Her head was lolling, her eyes slipping away, and that emptiness in her stare gutted me worse than the blood dripping from her hand.“Look at me,” I snapped, harsher than I meant, my voice breaking. My hands shot to her face, gripping her jaw, forcing her gaze up. Her tears smeared under my thumbs, hot against my skin.“Don’t you fucking run from me, Jewel.” My forehead pressed against hers again, harder this time, my breath shaking into her mouth. “Stay. Right here. With me.”Her lashes fluttered, her lips parting, trying to form words, but only a whimper slipped out. Her whole body trembled as if she couldn’t decide whether to lean into me or collapse away.Rick muttered something about pressure and blood loss, but I didn’t care. My world was narrowed down to her eyes—glassy, drowning, but still alive.I squeezed her face tighter, desperate. “Say something. Anything. Scream at me, hate me, I don’t care—but don’t you dare leave me silent.”For a second, just a secon
Chapter 99RickIt wasn’t Jewel anymore.Not the sharp-tongued girl who used to spit fire, not the teasing shadow of laughter trailing after Jaxon. What thrashed in my arms now was grief wearing her skin.“Let me go!” she screamed, voice breaking raw. Her nails clawed against my arms, her body twisting like she’d rather tear herself apart than stay here another second.I held her tighter, locking her to my chest even as she kicked, sobbing uncontrollably. My jaw clenched, and I muttered through gritted teeth, “You’re gonna hurt yourself, Jewel. Stop—damn it, stop!”But she didn’t. She bucked harder, head thrashing, hair sticking to her damp face. And when her hands slipped free for a second, she started pounding at her own chest, like she wanted her heart to split in two.That’s when Jace lunged in.“Enough!” he barked, grabbing her wrists mid-swing and pinning them down. He pushed her back against the mattress, his weight hovering, his eyes wild with panic and rage. “You think Jaxon
Chapter 98RickThe room was too damn quiet. Just her shallow breathing, just the sound of Jace pacing like a caged animal.I sat on the edge of the bed, cloth pressed against Jewel’s forehead. Her tears hadn’t dried; they streaked her cheeks like cracks in porcelain. Even unconscious, she looked like she was still fighting something we couldn’t see.Jace stopped pacing, fists clenching at his sides. “This is killing her, Rick. First Jaxon, now this. She won’t survive if we keep her in this storm.”I looked up at him, the weight of his words pressing hard. He wasn’t wrong—but he wasn’t right either. Returning her to the Bishops had crossed my mind more times than I wanted to admit. At least she’d have a roof, order, no chaos. But the thought of Christopher Bishop’s hands around her future made my stomach twist.“She doesn’t need saving from us,” I muttered. “She needs saving from herself.”Jace’s eyes burned into me. “Then we don’t let go. No matter how much she hates us for it.”Jewe
Chapter 97RickShe thrashed against me, fists pounding weakly at my chest as sobs tore out of her throat. “It’s my fault—it’s all my fault!” she screamed, her voice breaking raw.I pinned her wrists down gently but firmly, my body holding her in place so she wouldn’t hurt herself. “Stop, Jewel—stop, you’re going to tear yourself apart—”But she wouldn’t. Her tears streamed hot, her cries echoing like they were ripping the walls apart. Every word she gasped was another knife: Jaxon’s name, guilt, grief.“Let me go, Rick! Please—let me go—”Her body convulsed in another sob, and I tightened my grip, my jaw locked. I hated myself for restraining her, but if I didn’t, she’d break.The door slammed open.“Jewel!”Jace’s voice cut through everything like a blade. He stormed inside, eyes wild the second he saw her trapped beneath me, shaking and broken. For a split second, he looked ready to kill me.“She’s hurting herself!” I barked before he could lunge.And then he was there—ripping her
Chapter 96Rick “Jewel, no.” My voice came out sharper than I meant, but she was already fumbling at the blanket, her feverish body trembling as she tried to swing her legs over the bed.“I—I have to… Jace—” she slurred, her eyes glassy, her skin pale with heat.“Damn it, stop,” I muttered, pushing the blanket back over her shoulders and forcing her down with both hands. Her body felt like fire under my palms. She tried to shove me weakly, like a kitten pawing against a wall, but she was too far gone.“You’re not going anywhere like this.” My jaw tightened. “You’ll collapse before you make it two steps.”Her head lolled against the pillow, but her stubborn eyes stayed fixed on mine, swimming with delirium. “I can’t… I can’t just stay here. He needs—”“He needs you alive, Jewel.” The words came out harsher than I wanted, almost a growl. I leaned closer, holding her wrists down gently but firmly against the mattress. “So stop fighting me.”For a moment she stilled, chest rising and fal