"You need to leave with Jake. I can't keep you safe here, Bella. Please," Andy pleads, his voice choked with urgency. His eyes are wide with a mix of fear and desperation. He carefully lifts himself off me, his movements cautious, trying to remain hidden from view. I sit up slowly, my body trembling uncontrollably from fear.
"I'm not leaving without you, Andy," I insist, my voice breaking as tears well up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks.
Without warning, Andy pulls the delicate necklace I once gave him from around his neck. With trembling hands, he places it in my palm, closing my fingers around it to secure it. "Andy, no-" I protest, but my words are cut off as his soft, warm lips meet mine. The kiss is tender but urgent, his hand gently cupping the back of my neck. He pulls away, his eyes brimming with sadness and determination.
"Please, I'll be okay, I promise," he begs, his voice a whisper that barely reaches me. Jake remains hidden nearby, peering around the corner, his gun firing intermittently at anyone who dares come too close as the flashes of gunfire and the sound of bullets pierce through anything in their path.
My heart pounds violently in my chest, each beat echoing the tension of the moment. I nod hesitantly, my resolve wavering but firm. Relief washes over Andy's face instantly as he quickly presses his lips against mine once more, his kiss a desperate plea. He then plants a gentle kiss on my forehead, his touch soft and reassuring.
"I love you," he says, his forehead resting against mine, our eyes closed.
"I love you too"