Revolution (Collide, #4)(4)

She didn’t move, just watched us stoically as Merrick slammed on the brakes and came to a stop inches from her. I looked at her and back to Merrick. He was smiling. He leaned down to me, nose to nose, and let his fingers run a path across my cheek. “No matter what happens, baby, I love you more than I ever thought was humanly possible. Sometimes, my heart hurts from being too full. Know that. If nothing else comes of this day, know that I loved you so much that I could never be sad again, wherever I am.”

“Merrick?” I asked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I love you, baby. I will always love you.”

“I love you, too,” I answered even though I wasn’t sure of his confession or what Mrs. Trudy was doing there. I looked back to Mrs. Trudy and she waved. Then she pointed to her watch and lifted her eyebrows in a ‘hurry up’ motion.

I was more confused. I mean, not five minutes ago I was looking down at Merrick. He was bleeding on the floor, the life literally draining from him as I held in my shaking hands. And now, we were cruising along the highway…and…

Wait. I gasped awake.

I looked up and pushed Cain’s hand away from my neck. I scrambled up and away from his lap, where I’d been laid out like I was the one dying. He must have caught me when I passed out. I put my hand on Merrick’s cheek and failed at stifling a sob at seeing him so lifeless all over again.

He’d told me he loved me in the dream. He said he was so happy, no matter what happened… Had he known he wouldn’t see me again? Had I met him in some dream place and he was telling me goodbye, or was it all just wishful thinking?

Lily still had her hand on Merrick’s arm and her face was calm and



anticipatory. She was waiting for something. I looked around and everyone else seemed to be waiting for something, too. I looked back at my very life, my love, my soul mate and husband who risked everything to be here with me, who changed the very core of my being. I waited.

Cain once again rubbed my shoulder. “Sherry,” he tried, but I didn’t want to be placated or soothed. If this was it, if Merrick was slipping through my fingers, I wanted to see it all and not have any doubts about the realness of it all later. I would torture myself with this memory for as long as I lived.

And then…his fingers twitched. I heard more than felt the gasp that invaded my throat. I sat stunned as he opened his eyes slowly with flutters and blinks.

He looked around the room as if looking for something specific. He smiled at Lily and touched her cheek. Then his eyes settled on me and he stilled, his smile slipping away. He frowned as he leaned forward and held my face in his hands. My skin felt the familiar tingle of his touch and I broke wide open with sobs that ripped my chest in two.

“Ah, baby,” he soothed and urged me onto his lap. “You thought I was gone,” he guessed. His brow bunched as he thought about that. “I was gone. I remember. There was this light and then we were driving…the car ride…and Mrs. Trudy.” We both peeked over at Lily who looked extremely proud of herself. He looked back to me and pressed his forehead to mine. "I was gone, but I'm here."

"How is this possible?"

“You can’t get rid of me, it seems even with death,” he joked.

I wasn’t amused. “Don’t joke,” I croaked and sniffed. I whispered, “I watched you die.”

“And I’m so, so sorry,” he said with conviction, his voice deep and rough.

I sniffed again. “Do you feel different?”

He shook his head and palmed his chest. “No. I feel like…me.”

“That’s good.” I sniffed again and someone handed me a tissue. I locked my arms around Merrick’s neck and sighed into his warm skin. “Don’t ever leave me again.”

“Never,” he promised, his arms tight around my back and he sighed his words into my neck. “Never, honey, I promise.”

“Merrick,” Jeff said and cleared his throat. You could tell he hated to interrupt, but there was still a crap load of things to figure out. “Sorry. Um…but we’ve got issues here, man. Ellie and Marissa said there’s an army coming. And what should we do with this?” He kicked the Lighter’s boot. “Is it still just a Lighter or is it a human now? He didn’t burn up when he died so…”

It made me pause. That’s right, no lightning…

“Please, Jeffrey,” Merrick said roughly and didn't take his eyes off of me. “Be the captain for a while, huh? I just…can’t right now,” he confessed and gazed at me with barely veiled agony as he let his hands cradle my face. “I just can’t do anything but be thankful to still feel the buzz from the touch of your skin,” he whispered only to me.

“All right,” Jeff replied and seemed almost happy with Merrick’s response. “Marissa, can we have a timeline, sweetheart? When are we looking at?”

“I can’t tell,” Marissa said and gulped. Jeff reached his hand out to her. “I just know it’s soon. Within the hour.”

“Ok,” he soothed her and ran a hand down her arm.

Merrick sighed and stood as he said, "I need a minute with Sherry." I bumped into Cain, who was still behind me. He smiled in relief at me and patted my arm before walking back to Lillian.