Not since her hand had been destroyed had Ste felt such overwhelming panic.


    It had been even longer since she had cried. Leonard was right—a weak person''s tears were the cheapest currency in the world. But now, they fell like broken pearls, streaming down her face.


    Just then, a hand weakly brushed the tears from her cheek.


    A low, raspy voice whispered in her ear. "Star... don''t be afraid... I won''t let


    anything happen to you."


    Ste froze, her head snapping up. Joshua was looking down at her, a faint smile on his lips.


    "Joshua..."


    Before she could say more, his face went white and he coughed, a spray of blood staining the air. His eyes fluttered and closed.


    The blood in Ste''s veins turned to ice. Her mind wentpletely nk; her heart felt as if it had stopped beating.


    Haynes, having recovered from the st, hurried to her side. "Star, are you okay?"


    Seeing her so utterly lost over another man sent a pang of pain through Haynes''s chest. But he knew this was no time for jealousy. He had just witnessed Joshua shield her without a moment''s hesitation. In that instant, he finally understood why she trusted him sopletely.


    Joshua had earned it.


    Harold and Jake, who had been further away, now rushed over, their usualposure shattered by the sight of Joshua''s lifeless form. They had been through hell and back, but they had never seen him so grievously injured. He was hovering between life and death.


    Haynes quickly checked Joshua''s pulse. "Star, he''s alive, but we have to get him to a hospital. Now!"


    His words were like a ssh of ice water, jolting Ste from her stupor. "Right," she choked out. "The hospital."


    Haynes gave her aplicated look as Harold carefully lifted Joshua onto his back and started walking.


    "Our helicopter is this way," Haynes called out. "You''re going in the wrong direction."


    A cold smirk touched Harold''s lips. "We''re not taking our chances YOUT


    to identally'' drop him mid-flight?"


    helcopter What if you get


    Without another word, he turned and headed toward his own aircraft.


    Jake looked at Ste. "Ms. Cameron, let''s go."


    It was a clear invitation to join them. Ste''s mind was too numb to even wonder


    Shy Jake was there. She


    gave a small, exhausted nod


    "...Okay."


    She followed Harold, her legs moving on autopilot.


    Foreman was just getting to his feet. He had shielded Keen, protecting him from the st, but had been struck by debris himself. He


    watched in disbelief as Ste Walked away without so much as a nce at Keen.


    He started to go after her, but Haynes blocked his path.


    "Let her go. He saved her life back there."


    Foreman''s jaw tightened, his teeth grinding together. He couldn''t believe it. After everything, Joshua was still alive.


    "If I had known," he thought venomously, "I would have put another bullet in him myself."