I reach out to squeeze Alina's hand, dredging up a reassuring smile even as my body grows cold and I find myself shaking uncontrollably.
"Like I said, I'm not going anywhere."
The wail of sirens grows louder, and then the warehouse is filled with chaos as the SWAT team swarms in.
Medics descend upon us, ushering me onto a gurney.
Through it all, Alina refuses to leave my side.
Her hand is a steady, comforting weight in mine until they load me into the ambulance.
As the doors slam shut, cutting off my view of her, a strange sensation blooms in my chest.
Not pain, for once, but something warm and almost pleasant.
Hope.
Moments later, the air vibrates with the sound of approaching helicopters and vehicles—the full FBI SWAT team descends upon the scene with overwhelming force.
They're safe for now at least.
And then everything fades to black.
Alina
Gradually, the chaos fades into relief, as the realization sinks in that the terror is finally over. We're finally safe. From Gerald, at least.
I hold Yara tight, tears of relief and residual fear mingling as I whisper, "We're safe, solnyshko. We're safe."
Yara nods against my shoulder, still trembling.
There's a spark of hope in my eyes as I gaze at Gerald's prone form being loaded into a body bag and wheeled away.
The monster who haunted our American nightmares is gone. We're battered and scarred, but we survived.
But then my heart leaps to my throat at the sight of Morello, a choked cry escaping me. Not him. Please, not him.
I watch helplessly as he's loaded onto a gurney and then into the nearby ambulance, blood seeping from the bullet wound in his abdomen.
After all he's done to save us, I can't lose him now. We can't lose him now.
I rush to his side as the SWAT medics descend upon us, their shouts fading into the background. His eyes flutter open, meeting mine for a brief moment.
The warmth I've come to cherish behind those serious eyes makes my breath catch.
Then his eyes close again and the medics take over, working swiftly to stabilize him.
I try to get closer, but they usher me away and ask me to give them space while they work.
"You have to save him!" I urge, grabbing one of the medics by the arm. I can't stem the panic in my voice. "Please, he can't die!"
The medic gives me a grim look, then focuses on the task at hand. "Ma'am, please. We can't have you hovering right here."
I frown and step back, helpless, as they prepare to move him.
Yara comes up beside me, slipping her hand into mine and squeezing tight.
I cling to her, and it's my turn now to draw strength from her presence.