“Dad!” I shout. Or try to. It comes out as a croak.
I jump in front of Jax.
In the corner of my eye, I see Zephyr pull Zinnia behind his back. Shielding her.
The loud bang strips my eardrums.
All I hear is ringing.
I look down.
Blood.
Spreading across my chest. Dark. Wet.
Then darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Jax
My swollen eye throbs with every heartbeat. My ribs scream with every breath I try to take. But none of it compares to the pain in my chest watching Tiger’s body blow backward from the shot.
The bullet that was meant for me.
Is now in her.
Time slows down.
Her body jerks back, and she crashes to the floor like a puppet with cut strings. The sound of the gun echoes in my head, leaving my ears ringing.
I reach for her and pull her close. My hands are shaking so badly I can barely hold her.
“Tiger,” I cry. My voice cracks. Breaks. “Tiger, stay with me. Zeff!”
Her eyes flutter, opening just slightly. But there’s nothing behind them. No recognition. No awareness.
I’m losing her.
“Tiger, please. Look at me. Stay awake. You have to stay awake.”
Blood is everywhere. Pouring from her arm where the bullet clipped her. Spreading across the floor. Soaking through my clothes.
So much blood.
Too much blood.
“Get the fuck away from her!” I seethe at her dad.
But he doesn’t listen. He rushes forward and rips her out of my arms and lifts her like she weighs nothing.
He carries her toward the door.
“Zeff!” I scream, trying to stand. Everything in my body protests. My ribs feel like they’re grinding against each other. My vision swims.
I can’t stumble, can’t fall. I can’t risk pushing her out of his arms.
I’m losing her.
Zephyr steps into my line of sight with the phone pressed to his ear, already on the phone with 911.
