Page 92 of Fatal Scheme

“He’s going to be fine. He has to be fine,” Carter says, not even blinking as her eyes stay laser focused on the door, and I can’t tell if she’s reassuring me, or herself, but either way, I choose to believe her words.

The second we see the flash of a muzzle, Carter fires, and I follow suit, our shots and theirs mixing to create a loud distraction.

In a quick second, Massi’s arm comes from around the door, and my gaze is locked as the silver pin falls to the floor, but it feels like time has slowed down while we wait for the explosion.

Just as I’m about to expose myself, to check on Massi, the bangs go off, while Carter and I are blown backward, my body landing harshly on the bed frame.

My ears are ringing, the room spinning like a tilt-a-whirl, but even though everything inside of me hurts, I force myself onto my elbows, searching for Carter amidst the smoke and ashes.

“Carter!” I scream, barely able to hear my own voice, my heart racing as I scan the area for any signs of her dark hair, tanned skin, or even her smart mouth.

There’s nothing, no movement or sounds, and just as I begin to fear the worst, a tiny hand latches onto my arm, and I quickly turn to see her crawling toward me.

“Oh fuck, baby girl. Come here,” I say, my voice barely audible over the chaos, but she slides until her body is flush with mine, and I’m able to wrap my arms around her shaking frame. “I’ve got you.”

“Tyson! Carter!” Massi screams, jumping behind the desk, his movements frantic as he tosses random things to the side, searching high and low.

“Over here,” I choke out, coughing from the smoke intake, and he pounces across the room, taking her face in his hands once he’s in front of us.

“Are you hurt? Are you hit?” He asks, his eyes searching both of ours, but I’m only able to shake my head, everything fucking spinning as I find it a struggle just to take a single breath.

“I’m okay, we’re okay.” Carter pulls him close, but something still doesn’t feel right as I begin to see black spots blinding my vision, and I can’t stop the ringing in my ears.

“I … think I’m hit,” I cough, my arms dropping from Carter’s body to search my own, looking for any signs of blood.

Hands are on my skin, the poking and prodding feeling like thousand pound weights, but finally it stops, and Carter brushes her fingers along my face, garnering my full attention.

“You’re not, Ty. You’re fine, just banged up from the impact. Listen, we need to go see if there are any survivors. Can you stay here?” Massi props me against the bed frame, placing a gun in my hands, and I nod, relief immediately flooding my body as I sit upright.

“We’ll be right back, okay? Don’t you dare move.” Carter kisses my cheek, following Massi’s lead as they crouch low, maneuvering around the obstacles until they’re out of my sight.

Instantly, the panic creeps in, not being able to keep my eyes on them, and every moment they’re gone is agonizing, a pain so strong it throbs in my chest and steals my ability to breathe, again.

Suddenly, gun shots ring out, the back and forth fire resuming, and I scramble to get a better view, but even from this vantage point, Carter and Massi are nowhere to be found.

As the shots ring out from every direction, I scream out in pain, my body begging me to stop as I get to my feet, running through the room without cover, searching for them in every nook and cranny I can find.

Maybe they made it out safely, at least to the hallway, but suddenly, everything goes dark, and I feel three distinct burns ripping through my skin, the impact feeling like flames as I collapse to my knees.

A pool of blood is already forming as I kneel to the ground, inhaling sharp but short breaths, keeping my strength for the battle I’m about to endure.

I’ve been shot once before, but I can already feel the loss of blood hollowing my body, sucking the life from my veins as it drips onto the floor. I hear footsteps, and I try to take cover behind the desk, hoping that if I play dead, they’ll leave me to die in peace.

“Jasper! Jasper, oh my god, it’s Tyson! Jasper!” Carter screams, dropping to her knees beside me, her blood-stained hands reaching for mine.

“Pressure,” I rasp, flattening her palms with mine, holding it over one of the wounds in my stomach.

“There’s too much blood, I can’t see anything! Jasper, please!” She cries, tears slipping down her cheeks while she presses into my flesh, the pain causing my vision to go black.

Carter Ruby Cassina is the last thing I lay my eyes on, and even amidst the blood and battle scars, she’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing.

She’s been everything I never knew I needed and then some, proving that even the worst of men are given grace, allowed to feel great, transcending love.

I may not have a lifetime with Carter like I envisioned, but the time we did share was undoubtedly the best moments of my life, and because of that, I can die happily, a sense of peace washing over me at the thought.

Another voice moves closer, and I’d recognize it anywhere, belonging to the one man I’m proud to have called my brother. I know he’s going to be sad, probably a little lost without me, maybe even embarking on a bloody revenge tour, but he has her, and that alone reminds me that he’ll be okay.

The urge to speak is so strong, overwhelming even, and I use every bit of strength I possess to choke out the words on the tip of my tongue.