Page 45 (1/2)

She could feel hiripped her shook violently And he began to slowly press doard as if he had to use her to prop himself up

Jenna watched him take in the sofa, the stained coffee table, John, and their abandoned dinner

Relief softened his features as he swayed "We ot us out?"

Before she or John could ask out of what, Richart looked around again "Where is Alance John sent her "Who is Ami?" she asked

His frown returned, as did the alarm "What?"

"I don’t knoho Ami is, Richart You justappearedout of nowhere Alone"

"She wasn’t with me? I left her there?"

John stepped forward "Left her where? Who’s Aan to ave hio back," he said, face stricken He released his hold on Jenna and, breaking her own, staggered ao steps

When he listed to one side, Jenna hurried forward to steady him

He pushed her away "Don’t touch rabbed her by the shoulders and drew her back

Richart reached beneath his coat and drew out two very lethal looking daggers

John swore

Richart squeezed his eyes closed, so wobbly on his feet the faintest breath of ould have knocked hian to fade, becoht She could actually see the other side of the rooh him

"What the?" John whispered

Then Richart becaroith frustration Stu a couple of steps to the left, he thrust out an arainst the wall until he could regain his balance, then straightened He squeezed his eyes shut, brow crinkling with concentration Again his for phanto this?"

Jenna didn’t have to look up at him to knoas as freaked out as she was "Yes"

Once more, Richart’s form solidified He opened his eyes, spoke vehemently in French, then lurched forward His knees buckled Losing his battle with gravity, he crashed through her coffee table, reducing it to large splinters as he hit the floor hard

Her heart now lodged in her throat, Jenna jerked away fro onto his back, he stared up at her with unfocused eyes "I lefther there," he whispered, those eyes--dilated she could see now--filling withhis damp hair back from his face

He shook his head "I left her They’llkill her" A tear slid down his temple His weapons thunked to the floor as his hands went limp "They’ll"--his eyes closed--"tear herapart"

As Jenna watched in horror, he sighed Then his chest rose noher hands in his bloody shirt, she shook him "Richart?"

No response

"Richart!"

John knelt by her side "Mom"

Unable to speak past the luainst Richart’s throat above his carotid artery Seconds ticked by, passing as slowly as hours Her vision wavered as tears filled her eyes and spilled over her lashes "I can’t feel a pulse" Her breath hitched "I can’t feel a pulse!"

John shoved her hand away and pressed two fingers against Richart’s neck

She gripped Richart’s ar"

"Shh" He lowered his ear to Richart’s chest

"He’s--"

"Shh!"

This wasn’t happening

Whatever the hell this was, it wasn’t happening It couldn’t be!

"John--"

"Quiet!" her son ordered harshly

Jenna stared at Richart’s face How could he have coht of losing hiot a pulse," John blurted, face pinched as he sat up