Page 130 of Indigo Ridge (The Edens 1)

“Winn!”

Griff’s voice rang through my mind again. Or maybe it was Briggs.

Rain’s gaze flickered over my head to the base of the trail.

I followed her eyes, twisting as best I could. The headlights. The voice. He was here.

Fight. I gritted my teeth, squaring my shoulders and planting my toes beneath me. Then I shot forward, like a spring, and slammed my shoulder into her ankles.

Rain stumbled.

And then it was her time to fly.

Over the edge. Her screams dying at the first clash with a rock.

Then there was silence. Sweet silence as I collapsed onto the ground, tilting my gaze to those swirling stars.

“Winn.” Griffin’s voice came louder and louder, then he was there, picking me up.

“You found me,” I whispered.

He shifted, digging into his jeans for a pocket knife. One flick and the tie at my wrists was gone.

I tried to lift an arm to touch his cheek but I didn’t have the strength.

“Winn. Baby. Stand up. We need to get you to a hospital.”

I sagged against him as his arm wrapped beneath my shoulders.

“Oh, fuck.” His hand pressed into the wounds on my stomach. “Okay, I’m going to carry you.”

He made the move to stand and the pain that lanced through my body conjured one more scream.

“Fuck. This will hurt. You have to stick it out for me, okay?” He looked up the trail. “Briggs!”

“Coming!”

“Hurry!”

Briggs could hurry. Griffin could run. But I wouldn’t make it. He might carry me down this mountain and drive into town, but Rain had won.

There were words to say. Apologies to make. Promises to ask him to make. But in the end, I had no time.

“I love you.”

“No, Winn. Don’t say it.” He shook me as he stood. His boots began pounding down the trail. “Stay awake.”

“Say it back. Just once so I can hear it.”

“No.”

“Griffin.” My voice cracked. “Please.”

He didn’t slow. “I love you. Fuck, but I love you.”

“Thank you.”

Then I let out one more breath.