See How She Runs (The Chronicles of Izzy #1)(60)

“Shit," Ian shouted before rushing over toward him. He was followed by several other tall men that I could only assume were Guardians. Everything felt as though it was moving in slow motion. It was almost as if we were all suspended in some sort of viscous fluid. Ian knelt down by Kennan and assessed his wounds while I stood, rooted, unable to move. I felt someone come up beside me and put their arm around me. I looked over to find Molly looking at me with tears streaming down her face.

“I need medical in here now. He is still alive, but barely," Ian shouted orders to anyone who would listen while trying to treat Kennan’s wounds.

The floor suddenly rushed out from under me and I landed on my knees. The air came back into my lungs with a rush. Kennan wasn’t dead. He was still alive. Even if it were just barely, he was alive. I crawled toward his body, leaving Molly in my wake. My only concern was to get to Kennan, to tell him I loved him before he left. He had to know.

I got about five feet from him when the medical team rushed in and moved everyone to the side.

“No," I said, barely a whisper.

“What is it Izzy? What’s wrong?" Molly asked, concern lacing her voice.

“WAIT!" I shouted as I shoved my way toward his body. I would be damned if I did not get this out. I knew that it might be my last chance to ever tell him the truth. After all I had been through, I would not take this moment for granted.

“Guys, give her a second," I heard Ian plead. “Better make it fast, Little Bit. We need to move him.”

I nodded before kneeling down by Kennan’s head. I brushed my fingers through his hair as I took a deep breath. There was so much blood. I knew I had to be fast. I bent down to where my lips brushed his ear.

“Damn you, Kennan O’Malley. Don’t you dare die. Do you hear me? I love you. More than anyone I have ever loved, and if you leave me now, I will never forgive you. So you fight, damn it, and you live. You live, because without you I am lost. So please, if you ever felt anything for me at all, fight. Fight and live," I pleaded quietly in his ear.

The tears that had refused to fall earlier started coming in great heaves. I felt as though my throat were starting to close in on itself. I couldn’t seem to get enough air between sobs. I felt strong arms wrap around me and lift me up like I was a small child. I looked up to see Ian’s face.

“I’ve got you. Don’t worry, we will take care of him, Izzy. But we need to get you taken care of as well." He looked down at me with a seriousness I only saw during our training. I just sobbed into his chest and clung to him like he was a life raft.

“Wait," I said, suddenly realizing I had more to worry about than just myself.

“What is it?" Ian asked confused.

“What about all of the others? We have to help them," I hiccupped between cries.

“We’ve got it now. The Council has sent reinforcements. Everyone is going to get checked out and then brought back to headquarters for debriefing. Let’s worry about you for once, yeah?" Ian asked with a smirk.





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The ride to the Council headquarters passed quickly. I felt wrung out. I had cried for a good long while before I had no tears left to cry. I knew it was over. I had killed Xavier. All of the people he had kept against their will would be free now. But there was something nagging in the back of my mind. Something I couldn’t remember. I decided to let it go for the moment. I had neither the energy nor the inclination to think on it at present.





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TWENTY SIX





We arrived at the Council about an hour later. I was lifted out of the car by an uncharacteristically quiet Ian. He wrapped his coat around my shoulders and I realized I was still barefoot and in the hospital gown. I was grateful that he had the forethought to keep me from flashing everyone my underpants. I looked up at him and saw that he was warring with saying something.

“Just say it. Whatever it is just spit it out, Ian," I croaked. My voice had gotten hoarse with misuse, and the sobbing had done nothing to help.

“There is a very real chance Kennan might not make it, Izzy. I need you to prepare yourself for that," Ian said reluctantly. I knew he did not say it to hurt me, but it did not change the sting of his words.

“I already lost him once today, Ian. Can we please just hope for the best right now? I need to believe in something good again. So please, just please," I pleaded as my eyes once again filled with tears.

Suddenly, Molly was at my side and punched Ian in his arm.

“Way to go, jackass. Do you have any idea what this girl has been through in the past few days? Jesus, it is like you have no brain up there," Molly berated Ian.

I looked at Ian and saw his jaw drop. I gave him a questioning look to which he indiscernibly shook his head. I would ask him later. Right now, I really wanted a shower, some clothes that were not caked in blood, and to be as close to Kennan as they would allow.

Molly gripped my hand and I could tell she was shivering.

“Are you okay?" I asked her as quietly as possible.

“I’m just nervous. What if they are just as bad as Xavier and we get trapped again? Remember what I told you, some of these guys aren’t really the good guys," she said with a look of trepidation in her eyes.