Page 165 of Burning Bridges Duet

Gunner groans behind Liam, which makes him turn his head to look at him. I take my chance and jump forward, swinging the rod. Liam dodges it easily, and the momentum from the swing makes me lose my balance. He takes advantage of my vulnerable state and pushes me backwards, causing me to lose the rod. I try to grab it again, but Liam points his gun at me.

“Uh-uh, don’t even think about it, buddy,” Liam says. “Be a good boy and stand beside your girlfriend. You should enjoy the time you guys have left together.”

What a prick. I stand next to Liv as tears flow down her cheeks, but she stands tall, with fierce eyes and clenched fists. Despite the danger we face, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride at her strength and resilience. She’s a fucking warrior.

Our time together has been short, but even knowing the potential outcome, I’d choose her again and again. Regret floods me for not expressing my feelings for her sooner. I can’t leave this world without telling her how much she means to me. These last words must be significant, whether they become memories or our final moments. She needs to hear them.

I take her balled fist in my hand and squeeze it gently. She looks up at me, her fierce gaze softening.

“I’m so sorry I got you into this mess, Jaxon,” she whispers, but I shush her.

“I’d stand by your side no matter what, sunshine. I love you.”

Her eyes widen, but suddenly, I feel a searing pain rip through my chest, making me grunt, followed by a loud bang that echoes in the room. I put a hand over my chest, and when I look down at myself and pull it away, my palm is red. Blood is pouring from the wound, so I place my hand back over it, trying to stop the bleeding. Is this what déjà vu feels like?

THIRTY-FIVE

Jaxon grunts and collapses to his knees, then falls to the ground, his hand pressed against his ribs. I scream and drop to my knees beside him, pushing him to lie on his back and placing my hands on top of his to apply more pressure to the wound.

“Jaxon!” I sob.

“Sunshine,” he whispers, voice full of pain. “I’m so sorry.”

I turn to Liam, who’s still standing before us with his gun raised.

“Liam, please stop. Let me get him help. I’ll do anything, but please don’t let him die,” I plead.

“You think I still want you, after everything you’ve done? After how you treated my love and threw it away? I would’ve done anything for you, and you got me locked up while you slept around with anyone who wanted a piece of you. The disrespect!” Liam spits his words out with venom, his eyes filled with rage.

I feel Jaxon’s blood on my hands, warm and thick. He’s getting paler by the second, and I know I can’t save him. Liam points his gun at me, tears forming in his eyes.

“We could have been so happy. I would have given you the world, angel,” he says, but then his expression turns cold and his finger moves to the trigger. “Tell Theodore hello from me.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, thinking of Ryder, River, and Chase. I hope they can move on without Jaxon and me.

“I love you. I’m sorry,” I whisper, letting go of my life for a second time within a year, hoping I will see my family soon.

I wait for the inevitable, but all I hear is Gunner screaming “NO!” and bodies falling to the ground.

My breath leaves my lungs on a whimper, and I open my eyes to see Gunner still restrained but on top of Liam. It looks like he body-checked him. I hear a gunshot, and there’s more shuffling while Liam tries to get Gunner off him. In the struggle, the gun falls to the ground beside them, and I quickly pick it up and point it at Liam.

“Gunner, I’ve got it. Get off him,” I say, my hand with the gun shaking but my finger on the trigger.

When he rolls off of Liam and gets onto his knees, I can see blood spilling out of his shoulder.

“Fuck,” I murmur, quickly assessing the situation as my eyes flick back to Liam on the ground. He sneers at me but lifts his hands in surrender when I point the gun at his head.

“Can you walk?” I ask Gunner, trying to keep my voice steady, eyes not leaving Liam.

“I’ll manage,” he says with a grunt, clearly in pain.

“Okay, get out of here and get help. Tell the paramedics to hurry for Jaxon,” I instruct him firmly.

“I’m not leaving you here alone with him,” he protests.

“Gunner! Get the fuck going. You’re no help with your wrists in cuffs, and Jaxon needs a paramedic. You do too. If our friendship still means anything to you, you’ll do this for me. You leave and save yourself and my man,” I plead with him, feeling tears stream down my face, but my voice is calm. He hesitates for a second, but then stand up and slams a kiss to my temple.

“I’m going to kill you if you die,” he whispers, then I hear him run out of the room.