I flinched, unable to stop the scream I let out as I sheltered my face from the debris that exploded from the exposed brick walls where the bullet hit. Kira did the same, hunching closer as we were showered in sharp pieces of rubble, some biting into my right side.
In the seconds of the gun going off, Dean had punched Aiden across the face, hard enough for his head to snap sideways and jaw to dislocate. Dean kept moving, twisting Aiden's gun arm up behind his shoulder blades. There was a faint pop, and Aiden screamed in agony through his clamped jaw. He dropped the gun.
In another move, Dean stomped down on Aiden’s leg, breaking it at the knee before he gripped the back of his head and steered him head-first into the brick archway.
Aiden’s body went limp and Dean let his body fall at his feet.
My stomach twisted uneasily as I watched the blood leaking from Aiden’s nose. The bubbles popping throughout it was the only sign he was still breathing.
I tightened my arm across my stomach.
Dean stepped over Aiden and picked up the gun. Steadying his breath, he wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.
“You okay?” Dean breathed, removing the chamber from the gun as he gave the room a quick once over. When his eyes came to Kira and I, still huddled together on the floor, his jaw clenched.
Kira released a whimper but nodded vigorously. Her eyes remained on Aiden where he lay unconscious. Breathing, but unconscious.
I couldn't wait any longer and released a relief-filled sob as I launched myself from the floor, crossing to Dean in a matter of seconds. He was moving too, arms reaching for me before I flung my own around his broad shoulders. I stood on my toes as he held me in a tight embrace, his face nuzzled in the crook of my neck.
But the warmth of a hug wasn’t there. Neither was his comforting scent of sandalwood and leather; the feel of his breath against my throat when he sighed or the tickle of his stubble on my skin. Instead, the scratches from the shattered brick grew taut and painful. Like barbed wire was being pulled straight through my side. I wasn’t holding Dean anymore but sitting on the floor beside Kira.
Keeping my head up and eyes open was suddenly too much of an effort.
“You okay?” Dean breathed, removing the chamber from the gun as he gave the room a quick once over. When his eyes came to me, they widened with nothing but fear.
“I don’t think I am,” I whispered.
“No.” Kira covered her mouth as her gaze traveled down, muffling the fear in her voice. “Please, no.”
I brought my hand away from where I clasped it to my right side. The burning sensation beneath my skin worsened as blood, thick and warm, seeped quickly through my shirt.
The realization seemed to take longer to set in before I lifted my eyes to him. “Dean...”
“No-no-no, you’re okay. You’re okay,” he spoke softly, crossing the room and dropping into a crouch at my side. “I’m gonna get you out of here, alright?”
I nodded, forcing myself to focus on his face.
Carefully, he tucked his arms beneath my legs and arms and scooped me off the ground. I sucked in a breath, gasping at the pain that lanced through my side like a million wasps were stinging me over and over again. I curled into his chest, clinging to his T-shirt as he carried me towards the broken front door.
Kira followed close behind. I could hear her rushed footsteps and quiet whimpers, but I felt too tired to lift my head again.
“Eyes open, Lily. Come on,” he said, gently squeezing my arm.
The sun was too bright; too warm yet I couldn’t feel my fingertips anymore, and my shirt was growing warmer and wetter with every passing second. I felt weightless and tired, but his voice was giving me something to hold on to. Even if some of his words were whispers I couldn’t quite make out.
“Kira, get the door.” His voice sounded more distant than before.
Dean sat me down in a car. His car.
I groaned and shook my head, trying to push away from the leather seat. They were so clean. I didn’t want to stain them.
“No, Lily. You’ve gotta sit still,” he said.
When he glanced down, his composure slipped. Those silvery blue eyes were full of regret and lined with tears that he blinked away. The bottom half of his shirt was covered in my blood.
“Fuck,” he hissed, voice cracking. He pressed a kiss to my forehead, gently cupping the side of my face as he whispered, “You’re going to be okay, Lily.”
I leaned into his palm, finding comfort in the warmth until he was gone. Two loud thuds followed — car doors opening and closing. There was pressure on my right side, and I looked down to find Kira’s hand pressed against me, covered in a steady flow of blood as she sat beside me with tears streaming down her face.
