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In a swift un was now pointed at Wade and not her And she knew exactly what he was going to do Her love for Wade and her overwhel fear for his life had weakened the barriers she’d spent so long strengthening and now she was an open book He was going to kill Wade because he kneould utterly destroy her Farher body in front of Wade’s just as Thoh her chest and her mouth opened in a soundless cry just as another shot sounded

As she slid to the floor, she saw the neat hole for back, falling lifelessly onto his back

Thank God

She closed her eyes, her relief so profound that for a h her chest Wade was safe That was all that uttural cry of heart-wrenching pain registered close to her ears Oh God, had Wade been hurt after all?

She felt hands on her face and strangely, wetness as well She struggled to open her eyes and saw Wade’s head hovering over hers, his eyes aith tears

"Stay with me, Eliza," he said hoarsely "Oh God, baby, why? Why did you do it? You have to stay witheyes"

She watched hazily as he yanked his phone to his ear and began yelling that he needed an ambulance and the situation was critical For sohts were on Why was it getting so dark?

Then Wade’s face looain but she could barely make out his features His hand feathered over her cheek and he lookedterrified That was odd Wade didn’t get scared Her eyelids grew heavier and then the rooive up!" Wade yelled hoarsely "Don’t let go You’re free now, baby He can’t hurt you anyive up I love you so ot into allery Why the hell do you think I spent so much tiet yourself killed Why would I have taken a bullet for you?"

He went quiet, ainst the darkness to pry her eyelids halfway open, trying to focus on him, to do as he demanded More noise erupted as people poured into the kitchen She heard her naly a dozen directions, but she was only focused on Wade She was afraid if she lost sight of hiain and he continued stroking her cheek Sirens echoed in the distance, beco louder by the second

"Lizzie, my God, Lizzie, are you okay?"

Dane was here? Her led to make sense of the chaos around her She atte to tell him she was sorry, but when she tried to move, a spasm of pain overtook her and warue and then slid from the corner of her mouth

A weird sound that mimicked stabs of pain confused her and then Wade’s lips were on her forehead, pressing tenderly against her skin

"Be still, baby Try to stay still forupward over her forehead, s her hair in a repetitive motion "In here!" he yelled to some distant person