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My head starts spinning and I feel the blackness taking over My heart races so fast I can hear it My lips and tongue go nu My ars won’tsounds erupt in my throat My body temperature heats up but I start to shake uncontrollably My breaths start coain I squeeze Luke’s hand tight before I pass out

Chapter 32

Ari

I figure out I’m in the hospital before I open my eyes The undeniable set what happened Then it co back to me and I try to scream but my throat is too dry Warm hands hold me down, and I look up to see Luke and Sophie on both sides of the bed Sophie’s face is splotchy and red and fresh tears fall down her cheeks I look around frantically for Reed and Davis

“They’re with the pediatrician Davis won’t let Reed go He’s clinging to him The paramedics tried to pull him off in the ambulance and he threw a fit” Luke says softly

I nodon my temple

“Babe, you have a concussion and several deep abrasions on your wrist You had a massive panic attack, and it scared everyone to death They are keeping you overnight for observation”

“Katy?” I croak

They share a look and dread fills me “Please no, please no, please no” I chant

“Ari, she’s in surgery The bullet is deep in her chest cavity She lost a lot of blood and the surgeon is worried about the stress on her heart and her brain since the stroke We’re praying for the best, but it looks bad”

My heart splinters She can’t die, I can’t lose her Sophie senses my breakdown and crawls into the hospital bed with me She holds one side of me while Luke holds the other They let ets me some water while Sophie wipes down ether and breathing under control

“Ari, I can’t even begin to iht now” Sophie says “What can I say? What can I do to help you?”

“It’s terrible, I’ Katy I wantme But at the same time I feel relief Alex is dead” I look at Luke to confirm and he nods

“You saved our lives Thank you—if it weren’t for you—”