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As we start walking down the steps, I do my best not to jostle her too much. She’s already been through a lifetime of injuries. And who knows what this last head trauma did. What if she does have internal bleeding? What if she needs surgery? What if⁠—

It’s going to be fine, I tell myself. Because I know that God’s got this.

Even if life falls apart, I have faith that He remains steadfast.

“You know my legs are fine,” Dahlia says as I set her into the backseat of Presley’s SUV.

But I don’t care. I need to feel her. Need to help her. Because if I can ease even some of her pain, maybe this vise on my heart will loosen. After closing the door, I walk around to the other side and climb in beside her.

“Ryker,” she whispers.

“You almost died,” I tell her.

“But I didn’t. I’m right here.” As if to demonstrate, she takes my hand and sets it on her cheek.

I take a deep breath.

Then another, feeling my heart rate begin to slow just slightly.

“Why didn’t you wake me when you wanted to go down there? I can’t protect you if I’m not there, Dahlia.”

How did he know she was going to go down there? Was he waiting for her? Or was it an opportunity he couldn’t pass up?

“I needed to clear my head. Swimming always did that for me growing up. You were so tired, and I wanted you to get some rest.”

“Dahlia, you have to come get me. Please. I need you to let me keep you safe.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Just, please—wake me up if you can’t sleep. Then we can not be able to sleep together. Maybe we can watch another movie.” I try to smile, try to ease the chilling terror in my bones, but it does nothing.

She almost died.

Dahlia smiles softly. “I promise I will wake you up next time.” She rests her head against my shoulder.

“When we get back, I’d appreciate it if you let me stay in your room. I can sleep on the floor, but I want to stay close.”

“You don’t have to sleep on the floor, Ryker. The bed is plenty big enough. We can put a pillow between us if it makes you feel better, but I trust you.”

Truth is, having anything between us sounds like a horrible idea, but sleeping in the same bed with Dahlia could also lead to temptations I have zero intention of giving in to. “I’ll sleep on top of the covers with a blanket.”

“Compromise? I like it.” Dahlia yawns.

I open my mouth to respond when a pair of bright headlights blinds me in the backseat seconds before impact knocks the breath out of my lungs. The vehicle crunches beneath the pressure, and the world turns upside down.

Dahlia screams. I grab her and pull her closer to my body, trying to absorb whatever shock I can.

The SUV slams into the ground.

Once.

Twice.

Then it stops, and the world falls silent. Blood drips into my eyes, making it nearly impossible to see. Ears ringing, there’s not a single part of my body that doesn’t burn.

Beside me, Dahlia groans.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.