Chapter 18

Hayden thought he was going to die. If he lost his life taking a bullet for Jacqueline, then it would be worth it. But as his consciousness drifted in and out, something warm dripped onto his face. Was Jacqueline crying? He forced his eyes open with every ounce of strength he had left. Pain shot through his body, but all he saw was that single tear hanging from the corner of her eye. "Don't cry," he murmured weakly. Because when she cried, it made his heart hurt more than any bullet ever could. And with those words, he slipped back into darkness. Jacqueline's hands shook as her colleague explained the surgery step by step. She had been through countless scenes of life and death like this before. But this time, she couldn't stay calm—not when it was Hayden lying there. If he woke up, she told herself that she would make him leave. "The surgery went well. If he makes it through the night, he should be fine," a doctor informed her. "Dr. Blanchett, keep talking to him. It helps."