THHHHHWP!
The resounding whoosh that rushed by my ear accompanied the dripping of blood down Blake’s face before he collapsed to his knees. I lunged at Rose, cupping my hand over her eyes before wrapping around her and cupping my other hand over her mouth. She screamed against my palm, wiggling around and bucking against me as her legs flailed around in the air.
And as I looked in the direction of where the bullet had come from, none other than Viper himself stepped out of the shadows.
“Looked like you could use some help,” he said as he slowly lowered his weapon.
I pressed my lips to Rose’s ear. “It’s me. Calm down. Take a breath and stop screaming. It’s me. Calm down. Take a breath and stop screaming.”
It took a few repeats in her ear to get her to stop fighting me, but the second she stopped, I pulled her away from Blake’s bleeding body. I picked her up, still covering her eyes and her mouth as I carried her toward a truck on the other side of the parking garage. I tucked us behind it, shielding us from the desolation of the dead man’s body.
And after I removed my hands, Rose quickly tucked herself deeply into my chest.
“Oh, my God. Caleb,” she choked out.
I wrapped her up as tightly as I knew she’d be able to stand. “I’ve got you. It’s okay. I’m right here.”
She shivered violently against me. “Is he—is he—did—did that man—”
I kissed the top of her head. “Yes.”
“You guys all right?” Viper asked.
I craned my neck over my shoulder. “We’re good. She’s pretty shaken up, but all right.”
Viper nodded his head toward the elevator door. “You two get out of here. I can take care of Blake. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
I scooped a shivering Rose into my arms. “I have no clue how to repay you. Thank you.”
He waved his hand in the air. “You’ve taken bullets for me. It’s the least I can do. Now, go. I’ll deal with this.”
And as Viper pulled out his cellphone, I kept Rose’s head tucked squarely between my jaw and my shoulder.
Shielding her from the bloody nature of the crime scene as we headed back up to her condo.
20
ROSE
My memory stopped working. That was the only way I could explain it. I heard a whooshing sound, and then Blake stopped talking. That was all I remembered except for Caleb’s cologne.
I buried my face into the crook of his neck to cover myself in it.
“Rose? Is that you?”
“Is she gonna be okay?”
“She just needs some rest. Possibly some food.”
“Oh, I just cooked up a big ol’ pot of ham hock soup. I’ll bring some over.”
“I’ll get started on the butter rice.”
“And some cinnamon rolls. That always does my heart some good.”
The voices sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place them. All I knew was the feel of my bed sheets against my skin as someone placed me down onto the mattress. I gazed up at the ceiling, trying to focus, but failing tremendously.
“My brain doesn’t work,” I whispered.
