I had no clue how to protect myself if it wasn’t Dominic or Zevon. Fear caused me to stay on the couch instead of finding who it was for sure. After a second, I lightly kicked him with my foot. He grunted before opening his eyes and looking over at me.
“I think someone’s back,” I said, my voice still sleepy.
“Oh,” Collin said, his brain slowly waking up. If I weren’t concerned about who had showed up, I’d have thought his lack of attention was funny.
Before Collin could push himself off the bed, a knock on the front door drew our attention. It was a rough knock, almost in a lazy manner. My heart fell to the floor as fear consumed me.
“Stay,” Collin whispered, now wide-awake.
I watched with wide eyes as he pulled a gun from under the side table. He released the safety on the way to the front door. When he got there, there was another knock, louder this time. Some sort of grumbling was also heard on the other side.
“Who is it?” Collin called, putting his back against the wall and foot blocking the door so it couldn’t be pushed opened easily.
“It’s me,” Dominic said, although his voice was slurred and tired. “Let me in.”
“Who else is there?”
I didn’t hear a reply, but Collin must have as he aimed the gun to the floor, and with one hand, he unlocked and opened the door.
From how the couch was, I wasn’t able to see a clear view of the door, or who was on the other side. I only saw Collin. After a moment, when he deemed it was safe enough, he opened the door wider and let a man who held Dominic upright enter the house. The man had dark, messy hair that was shorter than Dominic's, but had a slight curl to it.
“Middle door on the left, down the hallway,” Collin said with a tilt of his chin.
The man didn’t say anything but followed the directions given to him. Dominic was having a tough time keeping his head up, and his feet were slow.
“What’s wrong with him?” I asked from my spot. I must have scared the man, as he nearly lost his hold on the slurring man.
“I’m fine,” Dominic huffed.
“He took something he shouldn’t have,” the man said. “He’ll be fine once he sleeps it off.”
“What did he take?” Collin asked, putting the gun at the back of his pants.
“No clue. It was a blue pill some guy gave him. I’ve seen them before, and know what happens when women end up taking them. They’re worse than the rape drug.”
“Shit,” Collin said, running a hand down his face. “I’ve heard of them. Thanks…”
“Name’s Wyatt.”
As he went to help get Dominic into his room, Collin followed. I didn’t know what to do. My heart was beating way too fast in my chest. My hands shook. My head began to spin. Did we need Zevon? Why did Dominic take something? What was I to do?
“Hey, princess?” Collin asked, drawing me out of my thoughts, leaving the panic there though.
“Y…yeah?”
“Can you get Dominic some OJ? And a glass of water? And probably some Advil, too?”
“Sure,” I said, liking the idea of being needed. It’d help to push the panic out of the way for now.
I slowly stood, begging my legs to cooperate with me. They were weak as I took the few steps to the kitchen and got what was needed. I spilt some OJ on the counter while pouring it from the jug. I left the bottle of water closed. I took the small bottle of Advil from the top shelf. I didn’t know how many he’d need, if any.
Taking the three things to Dominic’s room, I paused in the doorway, tears clouding my vision and my breaths choppy. He lay on his bed. His eyes were closed and his chest was moving with each breath.
He was alive. But for how long?
“He’ll be fine,” Collin said quietly as he took the items from me. He waited till my eyes met his. “I promise.”
I gave a stiff nod, having no option but to trust him. I had already lost so many people I cared about. I couldn’t lose Dominic, too.
