Loyal Heir (The Heirs 4)

She begins to frown. “Me? What did I do?”

“Nothing.” The corner of my mouth lifts. “When we started the fake relationship, I realized I was already in love with you. No girl ever compared to you.”

The expression on Aria’s face is something akin to awe.

Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, I pull her closer to me. “It’s always been you, Aria.” I press a kiss to her mouth.

ARIA

I thought I’d feel like… less once I told Forest. But he’s not looking at me like I’m broken.

This is not how I wanted to tell him, but with our lives hanging in the balance, I needed to clear the air between us.

It’s funny how when you’re staring death in the face, your problems seem less significant.

I just want Forest to know how much he means to me. I might not get another chance.

I lift my hand to his jaw and press a tender kiss to his lips. Locking eyes with him, I whisper, “I love you so much. You’re my entire world.”

A warm look softens his features. He’s about to say something but instead begins to cough. There’s a flash of pain on his face, and I watch as he struggles to take a breath.

“Forest?” I whisper, fear gripping my heart with icy fingers. I move to my knees, and reaching for his shirt, I begin to undo the buttons.

“No,” he wheezes. “I’m okay.”

“You’re not.” When I have the buttons undone, I move the fabric out of the way, and then the worst feeling slithers through me. The left side of his chest is an ugly color of red and blue. “Oh my God,” I whimper.

Forest uses his right hand to pull the fabric back over the severe bruising. “I’m fine. It’s nothing.”

My eyes lift to his, and I watch as he takes shallow breaths.

No. Please. I can’t lose him.

What do I do?

Panic wells in my chest and I begin to feel frantic.

I have to do something!

“Hey, I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

I shake my head and lift the fabric again. “I don’t know what to do.” I glance around the small space. Grabbing my phone, I check to see if there’s a signal. Frantically I look up at the ceiling and then the bent door. “Maybe I can crawl out somewhere and go for help.”

Getting up, I go to inspect the door, only to find it barricaded with concrete and metal. I shine the light over the ceiling, and not finding a way out fills my heart with dread.

God, we’re really in a tomb.

We’re buried alive.

I kneel down by Forest, and my eyes flit over every part of him. Just then, another aftershock hits, and everything begins to shudder and groan.

Debris starts to fall, and just reacting, I move my body over Forest’s side to protect him.

The air grows thicker with dust, and when Forest begins to cough, I grab his jacket from the floor. Bundling it up, I hold it lightly to his face. “Cover your mouth.”

There’s another loud bang, and it rips a whimper from me. Knowing I have to protect Forest, I push myself up on my knees and wrapping my arms around his head, I hold him to my chest.

I hear the elevator groan and creak as it’s squashed by the concrete that has fallen on top of it.

Please. I’ll do anything.

Just make it stop.

Let us survive this.

When the quaking stops, I can’t bring myself to move a muscle. I’m frozen in fear and dread.

Forest takes hold of my hip and lightly tugs at me. “It’s over. Come sit.”

I sink down to my butt, and feeling numb with despair, my eyes meet Forest’s. “If we don’t make it –”

“We will,” Forest interrupts me.

My chin begins to quiver, but I swallow hard on the tears. “I want you to know I’m so thankful I got to have you as my best friend and my first love.”

Forest gives me an agonizing look. “We’ll make it. We have to. I refuse to believe this is how we end.”

My body begins to shudder from trying to keep the tears back. I lean forward and press a kiss to his mouth. “An eternity with you wouldn’t be enough.”

“Like Hana and her parents always say,” Forest whispers, “I hope I get to love you in our next life.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and carefully hug him. “I want you in this life.” My tears begin to fall because I just can’t fathom that this is all we’re meant to have.

Chapter 22

FOREST

“Help!” Aria yells. “Is there anyone out there?”

Her cries for help rip my heart to shreds. I’ve never felt so powerless, and the foreign emotion makes me feel like less of a man.

“Help! We’re down here!” She’s overcome by a coughing fit, but then she continues to shout.

I’m supposed to protect her… to save her. Instead, she’s the one who has to rescue me.