Page 6 of Kylie

Yes. Help me. I don’t want to die today. I want more time with my babies, my husbands. I can’t leave them now. I’ll miss them too much. Please, God. Please don’t take me yet.

“The ambulance is on its way,” someone called out. “Is there a doctor here? A nurse?”

“Kylie,” Travis rasped. “Open your eyes, baby.”

I tried, but I couldn’t. I wanted to see his face, wanted…

“She’s got a pulse, but it’s weak.”

“We’ve got to clear this road for the ambulance. ETA is two minutes.”

A strange sense of peace fell over me, and while I didn’t want to leave them, I suddenly realized it was no longer my choice. The pain was fading. In its place, a soothing sense of nothingness. And I knew, sure as I knew that I loved my husbands and my kids, that I was dying. I couldn’t even muster the strength to open my eyes and say goodbye.

“It’s okay, baby,” Gage whispered. “Hang on, Kylie. Help’s comin’.”

Maybe. But it wasn’t going to get here in time.

Chapter Two

Gage Matthews

I was aware of sights, sounds, movement, but I was unable to move, barely able to breathe as I sat in the back of the ambulance, Kylie’s hand in mine. The EMT was working, doing God only knew what, as the other drove with obvious intent.

I answered questions when I was asked—What medications was Kylie taking? Any previous surgeries? Medical conditions?—not sure how I even knew the answers. My mind was fogged, my heart breaking as I leaned close to my wife, silently pleading for her to hang on. She hadn’t opened her eyes, hadn’t moved at all. I wasn’t even sure she was breathing on her own, but surely she was, right? They would’ve said something if she weren’t.

The next thing I was aware of was pulling into the hospital, then people filing out, taking over, pushing the gurney while barking orders as the EMTs followed close behind.

I managed to keep up, never releasing Kylie’s hand. She looked so pale, so fragile; it pained me to think they were going to take her away even for a minute. I needed to be with her, to assure her she wasn’t alone.

“Sir, you’ll need to stay here,” one of the masked people told me. “We’ll let you know as soon as we have news.”

I shook my head, tried to go with her, but the hands pulling at me were strong. Too strong.

“They’ve got her. She’s in good hands.”

I knew I needed to hold it together, needed to comprehend what they were saying so I could relay the details to everyone else when they arrived. If I had to guess, Travis was right behind us. I prayed he was because I couldn’t do this alone. I needed him, needed my husband’s strength to keep me standing.

“Come on. This way.”

It wasn’t until I was halfway down the hall that I realized Reese was the one guiding me, Brantley right beside him, their dog leading the way.

“I didn’t believe you,” I whispered.

“What?” Reese guided me into a chair in a brightly lit room with people scattered throughout. “What did you say?”

My legs gave out, the seat coming up to meet my ass. “I didn’t believe you.”

When I looked up, both Brantley and Reese were frowning.

“I didn’t think she was still a threat,” I admitted, my voice rough. “I thought Travis was losin’ his mind. Overreactin’.”

Their expressions went blank immediately.

“It was her. Juliet Prince. She was the one who hit Kylie?”

Brantley’s face was full of sympathy. “We believe so, yes.”

“Where is she?” My eyes bounced back and forth between them. “Please tell me they caught her.”