Then chaos ensued.
I took out my target with a clean shot to the head while Bodie took out his. When all three of them were down, I turned and found my brother and Selena on the ground, blood pooling next to them. That fear only burned hotter when I realized the blood was Justin’s.
Selena screamed, an agonized cry exploding past her lips as she leaned over my brother. Her hands trying to cover his wound.
I dropped down next to her, Cass still in my arms. “Justin, man. Where are you hit?”
“My shoulder,” he gritted out, pain twisting his face.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Selena sobbed, scooting back against the concrete wall.
Bodie dropped down next to me, a fearful Max clinging to him. He pulled out his cellphone, hitting a number. “We need a medic, now!” he bellowed to whomever was on the other line.
My eyes moved to Cass as she began to dry heave.
“No!” Selena screamed.
My head shot to the side where I saw Del Marco sitting up, gun trained sloppily on us while he swayed.
My heart froze when I heard the gunshot, time standing still. Then I realized the shot came from Selena, my brother’s AR clutched tightly in her grip, aimed at the lifeless body of her father.
It’s been two days since everything happened, and I still haven’t been able to wrap my head around it all. Reid hasn’t left my side since we got here unless it was to see his brother, who was also being released today. He’d taken a bullet in the shoulder. It had gone straight through so he didn’t require any surgery.
Selena hadn’t left his side either, according to Reid, who also told me this morning that she would be staying with Justin and their grandfather until she could get on her feet. She’d even come by to visit me as well. I told her if she ever needed anything not to hesitate to give me a call. I hated to think she didn’t have anyone. Even though I knew Justin would take care of her, it would still be hard on her. She’d killed her father, and despite how evil he was that has to have one hell of an emotional impact on someone.
Max had been released yesterday. She’d suffered a broken rib and extensive bruising, but other than that, she was fine. Her parents had flown out to be with her and take her back home. She’d not wanted to leave without me but Reid insisted that he would take care of getting me home safe so she reluctantly conceded.
Reid’s soothing touch and gentle kisses had been exactly what I needed the last couple of days, but my heart was still heavy. Bodie was alive, and yet, I wasn’t sure how to deal with that.
Part of me was happy, relieved. I’ve missed him so much, and now knowing he was alive had healed a part of me that had been broken for so long.
But I was also hurt. Angry. Betrayed. And while Reid had silently comforted me, we hadn’t talked much about it. He kept saying he wanted to make sure I was better before we dealt with it, but I had no idea where to even begin to pick up the pieces.
How do we come back from this?
Reid’s kiss pulled me from my unpleasant thoughts. “You ready to get out of here?” he asked, curling his hand around the side of my neck.
“Yes, I can’t wait to crawl into my own bed. I want to sleep for an entire month,” I teased, wishing I could stay locked in his arms the entire time.
Or maybe even a lifetime.
Sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, Reid stood in front of me, wearing a tender smile. We couldn’t leave until the nurse returned with my discharge papers.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I think we need to talk about that.” Fanning his hands on my thighs, he gave them a gentle squeeze.
My tummy fluttered with excitement while my pulse raced. “Talk about what?”
He grinned before leaning in to claim my lips, kissing me with an intensity and passion that set my body and soul on fire like only he could. He cradled my face between his warm palms, teasing my lips with his. “Forever, baby.”
I curled my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him down on top of me to kiss him deeper. He obliged. God, I couldn’t wait to get out of this hospital and spend days wrapped in his warm embrace.
I’d never been happier than I was in this moment. Despite everything that had happened, the pain, the suffering, it had all been worth it.
It had led us here.
And the man I loved had forever on his mind. I didn’t need to hear much more than that.
“Watch it, woman. These walls won’t be able to contain the ways I want to show you just how deep my love is for you.”
