The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 419

Helicopters thundered above, caught in a wild dogfight, leaving Abbot with zero chance of getting on board.

Ned, blood still streaming from his arm, stepped in front of Abbot, his voice tense. “Abbot, go. Head for the trees.”

Franco's bodyguards were multiplying. At the same time, Abbot’s reinforcements were weaving through the forest, racing straight toward the commotion. But none of that mattered if Abbot didn’t make it through the hailstorm of bullets alive.

Gritting his teeth, Ned groped for something at the small of his back, his bloody hand wrapping around a grenade. A sharp, dangerous glint flashed in Abbot’s eyes. “Hit Franco!”

Ned yanked the pin. Smoke curled up into the night, the grenade detonating with a violent boom below the moon’s pale glow.

Petty’s ears rang loud and sharp. The next second, Franco’s arms locked around her, strong and unyielding. One large hand cradled the back of her head, shielding her.

A second blast echoed—louder, fiercer than the first. The shockwave ripped across the mountaintop, tossing people through the air like ragdolls.

Several men went down immediately. Franco, still holding Petty tight, was thrown with her off the edge of the steep cliff.

For a split second, Petty saw nothing but darkness, her world spinning out of control as they tumbled downward, wrapped in Franco’s embrace. She could hear rocks bouncing and shattering around them, the sound mingling with the steady, hard thud of Franco’s heartbeat right against her ear.

Her hands grabbed for his shirt, clutching him tight. Pure instinct.

Up above, just before the explosion, Laura yanked a switchblade from a fallen guard. With Franco glued to Petty’s side, she had no clear shot, but with a knife, she figured she’d have a chance to end Petty herself—as long as Franco didn’t shoot her first.

Suddenly, a blast erupted, even closer this time. Laura watched Franco sheltering Petty, the sight fueling a jealous rage so hot it made her eyes burn. But she got no time to act. The shockwave hammered her next, knocking her off the edge too.

Down below, Petty felt their fall jolt, suddenly slowed. Franco’s arm still circled her waist, his other hand somehow catching a low-hanging tree growing out from the cliffside.

Stones and rubble crashed down from above. Franco hunched over, wrapping Petty in his arms, shielding her body. Sharp rocks pelted his back and shoulders, bouncing off and sliding away before they could reach her.

He told her, “Take the gun from my hand. Get a good hold of me. When I count to three, I’m going to swing you toward those trees. You climb up with everything you’ve got. Don’t look back.”

One shot. Only one of them would make it across safely.

Petty’s hands fumbled for his gun, then locked tight around his hand. She anchored her feet against the cliff, trying not to look down.

“What about you?” she whispered, pretending the question was casual, but tightness squeezed her chest, her heart thudding painfully slow.

Franco looked down at her, something raw and intense swirling deep in his eyes.

He kissed her forehead again, a silent vow in the darkness. “I’ll be right behind you.”