Page 381 of Primal

She finds it—yanks it out, blood smearing the metal.

The fucking access key.

The last piece. The way out.

Somehow, I’m still standing. Still here for her.

Payton’s already at the panel, flipping it open with shaky hands. She shoves the key in, turns it—

Every inch of me is fire and static. Don’t even realize how tight I’m gripping the knife until—

Movement.

Fast. Coming through the trees.

I lurch forward. The blade comes up.

“Kade, no!”

A blonde in a lace bodysuit stumbles into view—soaked, scraped raw, barefoot.

“Amanda,” Payton gasps.

“I thought I heard gunshots.” Amanda’s wide eyes bounce between me, Payton, the bodies on the ground. “Are they … wh-what’s going on?”

“Long story,” Payton mutters.

She throws her weight against the gates and pushes—

—until the creak of iron gives way to a clear view of the parking lot.

Of freedom beyond.

I let go. The knife slips from my fingers.

I sway. Stumble. The ground tilts.

All the pain I shoved down comes roaring in at once.

The world narrows to Payton. I want to tell her it’s okay. That she’ll be okay.

“Go …”

She sinks beside me, hands on my chest. Her voice cracks through the haze.

“Kade. Please. We need you. I need you. Please. Get up.”

My legs aren’t listening. They won’t.

She tries again, wrapping my hand in both of hers.

Nothing left in me to give. Nothing except the certainty I’d do it all over again.

She heaves. Collapses against my chest.

“Please,” she whispers into my neck. “Stay with me. Please.”

If this is really it—then I can be honest. It was always her. Just her.