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"Look, I was doing you a favor," Jack said angrily "You should be glad that I’ust me," Jace seethed "Unbelievable This isn’t about me I don’t have to like you, but Bethany loves you and I love her I want her happy That’s all I care about And you dead would not ret filled Jack’s eyes "I didn’tto hurt her"

"You fucking offered her drugs before!"

"That was different She wouldn’t overdose on them She never did She only took them when she needed them I just wanted to make sure she had what she needed"

"She doesn’t need that shit Ever," Jace snapped

"Is she going to make it?" Jack asked fearfully

"Jace, man, you need to co to get her back now"

Jace fell to his knees, grief crushing through his heart "No!" he roared "No! I can’t lose her! Goddamn it, no!"

Ash looked stricken and pale Mia was suddenly there, her ar but overwhel him into a nearby chair with a harsh coret and sy off in a sob

Then he lurched to his feet, only knowing that he had to get to her He wouldn’t let her go this way She had to fight! For her For him For the both of the hold When he got to the door, both Ash and Gabe tried to hold hiet to Bethany She couldn’t die Wouldn’t die alone surrounded by medical staff Around people who didn’t love her the way he loved her

He ran toward her rooent commands of the nurses for hi his face when he saw theive up!" he said fiercely "Don’t you dare give up, baby You fight, daaze was locked on the tube they’d reinserted into her lungs The doctor doing chest co pu inserted into her IV line

But the one thing he focused on to the exclusion of all else was the flat line running across the heartperformed

"Don’t leave me," he said brokenly "Baby, please don’t leave me"

"Sir, you have to leave," one of the nurses said in a low voice filled with sy "I know you want to be with her, but you have to let us get her back You’re in the way here"

"I’ her alone," Jace said fiercely "I need to be with her so she understands So she kno much I love her I won’t let her die alone I won’t let her die, period!"

"If you want her to live, then get the hell out so we can get her back," one of the doctors snapped "That’s what you can do for her Let us do our jobs"

"Man, coet her back You have to believe that Best thing you can do is to get out of their way"

Both Ash and Gabe grabbed Jace and forcibly pushed him out of the room

"Bethany!" Jace roared just as the door was closing "Don’t you fucking give up! I love you, goddaht!"

• • •

The tension in the sh the roof Jace sat, head in his hands, his shoulders slule memory of Bethany in his ageh Every time they’d made love When he’d put the choker around her neck the second tiht she’d been drunk and so damn cute and the way she’d lustily ht before when he’d hurt her unforgivably

"Jace"

He glanced up to see Mia sitting beside hihtly

"She’ll be okay She’s strong She’s defeated insuro down over this"

Jace crushed her to hihtly He buried his face in her hair and just held on He was losing his grip on his sanity He was slowly breaking With every minute that passed with no word, he died a little more himself

"I can’t lose her, Mia I can’t lose her"

"You won’t," Mia said fiercely "She’s stronger than that, Jace She’ll make it"

Jace lifted his head and over Mia’s shoulder, his gaze locked on to Jack, who sat in the corner, face buried in his hands Anger crushed through hio over and take him apart with his bare hands He was furious that Jack could have been so careless with Bethany It didn’t matter that Jack hadn’t intended to hurt her It had happened and now he could lose her If that happened, Jace wouldn’t rest until Jack paid for what he’d done

"Love you, baby girl," Jace whispered against Mia’s hair "Thank you for being here and for believing in Bethany"

"I love you too, Jace" Her voice was filled with sorrow "I love Bethany She’s perfect for you and you’re perfect for her"

"Not perfect for her," he said in a utted by all I’ve done wrong with her If she pulls through this, I just pray she’ll forgiveaway She put her hand to his face and cupped his jaw Her eyes were so full of love and understanding "We all make mistakes Look at the mistakes Gabe made I was so furious with him I was devastated when he pushed me away I’ve never hurt like that in my life You know that You sawand you saas that whole tiht And no e the fact that I loved hiry, but it didn’t mean that I didn’t love hie because you hurt her You’ll get the chance to ht, Jace You have to believe that It’s what she needs right nowto pull through this, and you need to believe in your love"

"Thank you," Jace breathed "You’re right I know you’re right She’s going to hter She’s da before now And I’ht there with her every step of the way I’ive up"

Mia smiled and then leaned forward to kiss his cheek "I like you in love, Jace She’s good for you I’lad you’ve found that special someone You deserve it for all the years you sacrificed to take care of ht her hand and held it between the hi hirets I aiting lad we’re both happy now and have a very bright future to look forward to Can’t wait for you to give me nieces and nephews to spoil shamelessly I can’t wait for my own children to do the sa up her entire face "That’s a wonderful thought, isn’t it? Us building fa family"

"Yeah, it is," Jace returned softly