Page 127 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

“Excuse me…”

I turned away before Kai could see my face, because suddenly all I could hear was Dannie's voice.

I love you.

It echoed through my mind, painfully alive. I could still see his pale, drained face and feel his fingers squeeze mine with what little strength he had left.

Please… smile for me.

Those were the last words he'd spoken before they wheeled him into the operating room.

I'd stood outside that door for what felt like an eternity. Then I'd stood outside Kai's, praying, begging, asking for miracles. I already knew I was being greedy.

Two men. Two lives. Two miracles.

But I asked anyway.

“Dannie didn't make it.”

Kai stared at me, expressionless. Then he slowly shook his head.

“No. I don't believe it.” He tried to sit up, but pain flashed across his face as the movement pulled at his stitches.

“Kai, don't.” I reached for him. “You're going to reopen your stitches.”

“No…” His voice broke, and his body gave out. He slipped from the wheelchair, and I caught him before he hit the floor.

Memory came flooding back—the gunshot, Dannie throwing himself between Kai and the bullet, the impact, his body hitting the stone floor, the blood.

So much blood.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Dannie had wanted this.

He’d found his way out.

He'd seen the gun pointed at his brother and stepped between them without hesitation.

Because that's who Dannie was. He loved his family. He loved Kai. He loved me.

And for the past year, he'd told me again and again to leave him. To find my happily ever after. To live. To love.

Every time, I'd given him the same answer.

No. I would never leave him.

Maybe the day I die, he'd say.

Maybe.

That had been our joke. Except there was nothing funny about it now.

“I killed him.” Kai's voice was barely audible. He stared at the floor, his face hollow.

“No.” My answer came immediately. “You didn't.”

“He died because of me.”