m Dolly's kiss, his e

l and left the room, leaving Dolly with a trace of a satisf

laying the role of the devoted fiancé, yet

en's restroom in the hospital, splashing

on in the mirror, his gaz

t just tired, but deeply

g around him, then pulled out his phon

e you've hit another dead end. I need her! Dolly's co

ed the t

given him an unsatisfactory answer, be

ss the room, watching it

storm cloud, gather

room, only to see a doctor wal

a sharp downturn. Her heart is failing rapid

shed into

tracking down her cheeks as her ha

t want to die. Don't let me leave you." Her words were full of desperate pl

tly. "No, Dolly, no. You're not going anywhere. I won't let you go

ill bring her back. She will save you.

tal, the fierce glint

the desolate warehouse w

the leather gleaming omi

spectral form was once

till slumped on the floor

growled, his voice thick wi

ad, his eyes bloodshot, hi

voice so hoarse it was almost a whisper

ritted h

d through the air, landing heavil

amed, his body

is face a mask of cold fury, an

out his phone, snapped a picture of

, the door wa

d in. Her hair was a mess, her eyes bloods

; the vibrant woman she used to

was left of it-

a sneer tugging at t

ricken mother. Are you finally going to tel

's tortured form. Her eyes

a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket and threw it at

her here. Stop hurting Jaron. Stop hurting everyone."

per, then back up at Mom, a

ote, and narrowed his eyes at

ed softly, his tone dangerous. He glanced at his men. "Grab her.

ck, letting them dr

clutching the piece of paper tightly, h

led the car as they sped

bustling port or an airport, but at th

ly from the car and

e so faint it was barely a whisper,

eyes sweeping over the s

er forming on his lips. He spotted a simple headsto

laugh of pu

You want me to believe she's buried here?" He kicked the dirt next t

itter sarcasm, every wo

ooked up at him, her eyes burning wi

than before, tinged with a soul-tearing agony. "She's d

flushed crim

sending her sprawlin

uldn't be! She's out there right now, livi

g again, snapping him ou

e phone, his b

he barked into

ry-suddenly went wide. A faint, bare

ead on her? Yo

lash of triumphant, c

s still alive. I was al

e, and the triumphant smil

m like a physical blow. The color d

ly pulled the phone away from his

the sudden silence, tolling like a

med. Kayla Ashley... she's dead.