“Tyler said you would help us,” I say, feeling stupid the second the words are out of my mouth. Why did I think this was the answer? Why would I assume the person who once kept us bound and gagged would help save Ethan’s life? I must be completely losing my mind.
He looks straight at me. “You want this over, you do what I say.”
My only concern is keeping Ethan alive at this point and if I have to make a deal with the devil for that to happen, I will.
“Just me, not Ethan or Teeny. Just me,” I say, holding his gaze.
Teeny gasps behind me but I don’t turn to look at her.
“I’m not sure you’re in a position to make demands.” He’s back to being cold.
“No, but I know it will be a lot easier for whatever you have planned if I cooperate. And if you help Ethan, I’ll cooperate.”
Thomas rolls up his sleeves and immediately starts unwrapping my jacket from around Ethan’s arm.
“Ty, get my kit.”
Ty. It’s strange hearing him referred to by a nickname, especially from Thomas. Tyler sprints from the room. I hover over Ethan trying to get a better look at his arm.
“Move back; you’re blocking the light.”
I scoot back so quickly I almost fall off the bed.
Ethan’s shirt is soaked with blood and Thomas tears it away to the shoulder. Tyler runs back in the room carrying a large black duffel bag.
“Hot water. And some towels.”
And Tyler is gone again.
“How do you know what to do?” I ask.
He glances up at me, his face blank, then goes back to pulling out supplies from the bag. And all I can think is, how did he manage to come off so personable in Natchitoches? It’s almost impossible to consider him being the least bit charming.
Once Tyler’s back with the hot water, Thomas starts cleaning the blood away from the wound and Ethan comes alive. He sits up in the bed, a string of curses bouncing off the walls.
“Hold him down!” Thomas yells.
I grab his good side, throwing all my weight on him to get him back on the mattress while Tyler catches both legs. Thomas lays one arm across his chest while he digs in his bag with the other.
Ethan is looking at me with wild eyes, especially after seeing Thomas and Tyler. Not only is pain etched across his face, but confusion as well.
Ethan repeats, “What did you do?” over and over and I feel horrible.
Thomas pulls out a syringe and a small glass bottle. Once the syringe is full, he jabs it in Ethan’s arm, right near the gunshot wound.
Ethan fights for another few seconds then his eyes roll back in his head and he falls against the mattress.
“Now, let’s see just where this bullet went.” And Thomas goes to work.
Rules for disappearing
by Witness Protection prisoner #18A7R04M:
There’s a time to cut and run….
New rule by Anna Boyd:
And there’s a time to stay and fight….
