Page 113 of The Ashes of Summer

"I want the truth."

The words crack apart halfway through. Silence fills the SUV. Then, finally: "Groves."

Pain slices through me.

No.

"Hayes."

Another crack.

"Vance."

The tears come instantly. "Oh my God⁠—"

I press my hand over my mouth while it crashes through me. Dead. All of them. Because of this. Because of Jackson. Because of my Papa.

Jacob reaches for me despite what it costs him. "Hey."

I can barely breathe around the guilt. "They came for me," I sob.

"And they'd do it again."

I shake my head hard. "They didn't have to⁠—"

"They chose to. They wanted to." The sharpness silences me. His eyes lock onto mine. "Every one of them knew exactly what they were walking into tonight."

"And now they're dead."

His expression darkens. "They died doing the right thing." He reaches up slowly, brushing bloodstained fingers against my cheek. "And you made him pay for it."

I freeze.

"When you pulled that trigger—" His voice roughens. "—you did that for them."

The memory flashes violently through my head. Jackson jerking sideways. The gun leaving his hand. My stomach turns over.

"I was scared."

"I know."

"I couldn't let him take you from me."

"That's why I'm proud of you."

The words hit like a physical blow.

Because Jacob isn't looking at me like I'm fragile. He isn't looking at me like something that's been broken and needs handling.

He's looking at me like I survived.

Chapter 36

What’s Left of Me

Summer

The clinic near the Ridge looks nothing like the hospital back in Rosefield.