at anyone she didn’t trust. Just like Archer… except, I guess, he didn’t look even the slightest bit soft.
This assignment was either going to be a heap of fun or a goddamn nightmare.
Present…
Pain wracked my body, and I tried to draw a breath. Only a tiny amount of air made it into my lungs before blood choked me and my chest spasmed.
Fuck. I'd been shot.
I couldn't move enough to get up; I couldn't even turn my head if I wanted to. But I didn't. I never wanted to look away from those beautiful, violet-blue eyes that stared back at me. If she was the last thing I saw before I died...
My ears were ringing a high-pitched whine broken only by ragged, wet gasps as I tried to breathe. I was drowning in my own blood; there was no question about it. I guessed it was just a race to see which killed me first, the bullet wound or asphyxiation.
Movement jolted me back to the present before I even realized I'd started to drift away. Pain radiated through me again as someone scooped me up off the ground and ran.
I tried to scream, but no noise came out, just more blood spilling from my lips as I choked.
"...stay with me, you bastard," Archer's rough demand cut through the ringing in my ears, and I wanted to laugh. Of course he'd still be cursing me out as I died.
More jostling dominated my attention as he stuffed me into the back of the car, and the pain of it all made me black out.
Maybe that was it?
But soft, floral-scented hair brushed my face, dragging me back to consciousness as gentle lips kissed my cheek.
She was here. My girl was here. I couldn't leave her yet... not yet. She needed me; she needed us. I couldn't fucking die. Not now.
"...Max, please don't go," she whispered, her voice choked with the tears that fell on my skin. "Please. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry, this is all my fault. Please, Max, please..."
A low rumble of voices from the front of the car reached my ears, but I couldn't make out the words. No doubt Arch was driving like a damn bat out of hell to get me to a hospital. I wanted to shout at him to hurry the fuck up. My girl needed me, and I wasn't going out like this. To some cowardly fuck shooting from the shadows? Hell no. Max Steele wouldn’t be wiped off the board that easily.
Except... I was pretty sure I was dying, no matter how fast my friend drove.
Blood choked me again, and my Hellcat turned my face so it could drain out. It gave me a fraction’s respite. Enough that I could hear her next words clearly.
"You can't die yet," she whispered in my ear. "You can't. I’ve never even told you that I love you, but I do. I love you so fucking much, Max Steele. Please, please don't leave me."
Shit, beautiful girl... if only I had the choice.
Seven and a half years ago...
Zane's fist landed a hard blow across his little brother's face, and MK's hand gripped mine tighter. It was the only sign she showed of being afraid. Her face, with such delicate features, not betraying anything as Zane beat the shit out of Archer in front of us.
"You're fucking pathetic, little brother," Zane snarled down at Archer. My friend was on the ground after that last punch, and blood splattered the wooden floors. "Is that the best you've got? Grandfather must be getting weak in his old age if that's as good as you've got for me." He delivered another heavy kick to Archer's ribs, and something snapped.
MK flinched this time, just the slightest bit, but I squeezed her hand in warning. I knew she wanted to say something to try and stop Zane from beating up Arch, but it wouldn't do any good. In fact, it'd only make it worse.
A few more kicks with his steel-capped boots and Zane decided he was done. He spat on the floor in front of his brother's body and sneered.
"You'll never go far in the Reapers, little brother. You're too weak." His disgusted gaze ran over me, then flickered over MK with somewhat more interest. It made my blood boil because she was a fucking kid. No bastard should be looking at her like she was a woman when she was barely even in a training bra.
I stepped forward, blocking her from Zane's line of