“Arden!” I scream.How the hell is he moving so fast while holding me?He pushes me toward the gates where cars exit. When I try to run back, he stops me. I look at him in desperation. Tears are streaming down my face.
“I’ll get him, but you have to go. Now.” He motions toward the gate. If I don’t go, he’ll stay here longer and that will delay the help Leo and the others need. My chest aches at the thought of the last time I see Leo is him clutching his neck. I nod once, turn, and run.
I turn to look over my shoulder, but Arden is no longer there.What the hell?I have to fight the urge to turn around and go back. There’s shouting, gunfire, and the building is still making disturbing noises.Where the hell is the police? Don’t they hear the gunfire?
My questions are answered when I get through the gate and turn onto the sidewalk. There are people everywhere. People are bleeding, some are covered in dirt and dust. The front of the building is tilting toward the street. My eyes fly to the entrance.James!Guilt overwhelms me when I realize this is the first time I’ve thought about him. I start to run toward where the entrance used to be.
A man gets in my path and puts his hands on my shoulders. “Ma’am? Are you alright?” His eyes go to my blood-soaked blouse. “Are there more survivors in the garage?” He glances behind me and waves his hand at other first responders to get their attention. A woman starts toward us, but I don’t pay her any attention.
“There are survivors, but there’s a gunfight going on,” I tell him.
His eyes widen. “What? Why?” I don’t know how to respond. I squeeze my eyes shut, suddenly feeling lightheaded, then lean over and throw up. “Okay, I’ll let the police and sheriff know. I need to take care of you.”
“Hey, Eric. I can take care of her.” The woman he was waving at steps in front of me and offers me a weird smile. Almost like it’s forced. Maybe this is the day she realizes her choice of career isn’t something she can handle. Another wave of nausea turns my stomach. My skin feels clammy. Maybe I’ve lost more blood than I thought.
The man, Eric, nods at her. “Thanks.” He points to my arm. “That needs to be taken care of as quickly as possible.”
The woman gently wraps her arm around my waist. “Come on, Olivia. I’ll take care of you.”
My head snaps to her. “How do you know my name?” Squinting at her, she does look familiar, but I don’t know why.
She doesn’t answer as she pushes me into the back of an ambulance. I don’t have the strength to fight her as I almost fall onto the gurney that’s in the back. My head is pounding and as hard as I’m trying to fight it, I don’t think I’m going to be able to stay conscious much longer.
I force myself to open my eyes to look up at the woman.I asked her a question. What did I ask her?
“Go drive. I’ll get her arm stitched up.”
That’s a man’s voice.I turn to look at where it came from and squint. The man is sitting next to me, grabbing supplies. He turns back toward me and I blink at him. He offers me a smile that I’m assuming he means to be reassuring, but it’s not.
“I’ll take care of your arm, Olivia.”
I blink up at him. It’s the same doctor that did the hysterectomy.
Chapter seventy-five
Victor
Donovan is dead. He’s dead. I killed him and I don’t regret it. Gun shots ring around me, so I stay low as I scramble behind a car. Lincoln is right behind me, dragging Leo. As prepared as we thought we were, this is still not what we thought would happen. I grab Leo under his arms and hoist him behind the car.
Lincoln rips his suit jacket off and holds it to the wound in Leo’s neck, trying to put as much pressure on it as possible to stop him from bleeding out. “Boss,” Leo gasps, and I finally force myself to look at him. He coughs and blood seeps from the corner of his mouth. “Tell Liv she’s the best little sister.”
“You’re going to tell her that yourself,” I tell him as I look around and try to figure out how the hell to get out of here. He grabs my arm, forcing me to look at him. I swallow the lumpforming in my throat. “You are not going to die.” I’m trying to convince him as much as myself.
“If I hadn’t jumped in front of them when I did, it could have been her. I’ll gladly die for her.” Tears drip out of his eyes as he takes in a labored breath.Why the hell are they still shooting? Haven’t they noticed Donovan is dead?I stare down at him and come to terms with the fact I may only have a few more moments with him.
My voice cracks. “Thank you, Leo.”
“Don’t go getting all sappy on me, boss.” Leo closes his eyes.
“Open your fucking eyes!” Lincoln shouts at him. Leo opens his eyes and glances at Lincoln before looking back at me.
“I knew Lane didn’t turn on you. He has a crush on Liv, though, so you better lock that shit down.” Even when he’s fucking dying, he’s cracking jokes. Someone dives around the car. Both Lincoln and I turn with guns raised, then relax at the sight of Arden. Arden looks from us to Leo.
“Fuck!” He pushes Lincoln aside so hard Lincoln falls back against the car. Arden scoops his arms under Leo and looks at me, ignoring Lincoln. “I’ll take care of him.” Before I can respond, he takes off with Leo in his arms.
Lincoln turns to me with shock on his face. “What the hell was that?” I stare at him pissed that Arden did that.What if Leo dies and I don’t get to tell him how much I appreciate everything he’s done for me and Olivia?
I shake my head and rub my hand over my head. “I have no idea.” Taking a deep breath, I try to assess the situation. “We have to get out of here.”
