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Ignoring his pleas of desperation not to move him, he urgently begged me to just leave him there. I stopped once we were far enough inside the shitty walls and away from any points of entry. I hid us as best as I could for the time being until one of my men could find us. Everything blended together, including my goddamn sanity.
“Jace, I can’t…” he bellowed in a tone that wasn’t his, already giving up on life.
“It’s fine, Tony. I’ve got you, buddy. You’re going to be just fine.” I hovered above him, shielding his frame with mine. I desperately tried to keep my emotions in check.
“Jace…”
I swallowed hard, shutting my eyes for a few seconds, needing a minute to get my shit together to look down at him again. I mentally prepared myself for what I would experience, for what would happen, for what I knew he was going to beg me for because I would plead for the same fucking thing if I were in his position.
I peered down at the soldier I’d known for what felt like a lifetime, taking in my best fucking friend.
“I’m here, brother. I’m here,” I gritted out, my lips trembling.
“Do it…” He bled out through his mouth. “I can’t die like this… please… just do it for me…”
I reached over and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. I provided any comfort I could, letting him know I was there with him.
“Tell my girl sweet pea I love her, okay?”
I nodded, hanging on by a thread.
“Tell my kid one day that I died a hero, okay?”
“Of course. I swear to you they’ll be taken care of.”
He started to cough up clots of blood. I tried to sit him up, but he screamed in misery.
I nodded, unable to form words. “I’m sorry, Tony. I’m so fucking sorry. It’s my job to protect my team, and I failed you.” I bowed my head in shame.
His body began convulsing, this time worse than the last.
“Jace… let me die with honor…”
Another gasp of air gurgled in his lungs. He was suffocating in his own blood. With my fingers, I shut his eyes and did what I had to do. I pulled out my Glock, shut my eyes, and ended his misery. And just like that, in the blink of an eye.
Tony saved my life while I claimed his.
Six
Cove
Now: Almost two months later
“You’re going to make me go to Grad Weekend without you?” I asked, throwing my hiking boots in my luggage.
We were three weeks away from graduation, and Grad Weekend was finally here. Our class, along with several others in the state, were going to Disney Springs in Yellowstone for the next two days.
“I would never be able to forgive myself if I made you miss this weekend to stay with me. You’ve been looking forward to it since ninth grade.”
I sighed. “You would get the flu now.”
“Right? Like what the hell?”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”
“Stop asking me that. I already told you no. All I want is for you to have so much fun and take lots of pictures and videos. I’ll be stalking your social media with a severe case of FOMO.”
“I promise I will. Don’t forget to keep me updated on how you’re feeling.”
“I’m fine. The doctor said I have a mild case, and I’ll be good as new in a couple of days.”
“Fine. Just promise me you’ll wash your damn hair and change out of those stinky sweats you’ve been wearing since you and Hayes broke up.”
“Stop hating on my sweats, Cove. They’re in style now.”
“Yeah, to go to the airport in, not to live in.”
“All I want to do is lie in bed and watch movies all weekend.”
I threw my toiletry bag in my luggage next. “If you watch The Notebook one more fucking time, Haven, so help me God…”
“It’s a classic, Cove.”
“Watch Titanic, that bitch could have shared the door with Jack, and we all know it. Now that’s the mood you need to be in.” I zipped up my suitcase. “Oh! What about your dad? Is he not chaperoning anymore?”
“He’s going to—”
“Hey, Deacon’s beeping in. Since I’ll be alone in my hotel room now, I’m going to try to convince him to come stay with me tonight.”
“Wait a second. Isn’t that against school policy?”
“Rules were made to be broken, Haven.”
“Cove, don’t get in trouble three weeks before graduation.”
“I’ve already accepted my admission to Wyoming University. I can’t get in trouble. Besides, everyone will be trying to sneak into each other’s rooms. It’s part of the fun of it all.”
“Cove—”
“Relax. You know I’ve been sneaking people into my bedroom since middle school. I’m a pro at this point.”
“That’s why there are chaperones. I’m sure there will be one on every floor.”
“They have to pee at some point, don’t they?”
