“One more step, and you’re not gonna be able to save your baby mama.” He chuckles. “Jodie’s had you played bro from day one. That kid could be anyone’s. Hell, it could even be mine. She was a shit lay, though. It was like fucking a sack of potatoes.”
Ash clenches his fists, his face snarling like a wild animal.
“Just call 999, Ash. He isn’t going to shoot.” I know Levi’s mental, but he’s also a coward and gets others to do his dirty work.
“Aren’t I?” He pulls the safety back on the gun. “Want to test that theory?”
Ash throws his phone onto the sofa. “He’s fucking crazy.”
Levi lowers the gun, laughing to himself as he gathers Ash’s phone from the couch.
I rush back to Jodie’s pale body on the floor. “Ash, can you carry her to the car?”
Ash tucks his arm under her limp body, the whites of his eyes locking with mine. “She’s barely breathing, Lil.”
Her raspy shallow breaths fall away as a stillness washes over her.
I press my fingers against her neck, praying to feel a faint pulse, but there’s nothing. “Call an ambulance now, Levi. Please do the right thing. She’s gone into cardiac arrest.”
I tilt her chin to open her airway, fighting to listen over the pounding in my own ears. For a few long seconds, I wait for her chest to rise. But her cold skin offers no pulse beneath my fingertips and no breath tickles my ear.
I start compressions on her chest. Counting in my head. “If she dies, the cops will be crawling all over this place.”
He lifts the gun again. “Then I suggest you make sure she lives.”
“What can I do?” Ash drops to his knees, cradling Jodie’s head in his hands.
“Keep her airway open. You need a good seal around her mouth when you blow into it and check the chest is inflated.” Tears pool in my eyes, making everything blurry as I continue to press against her chest, counting to three. “Come on, Jodie. Think about your son. Stay with us.”
Everything fades away as I focus on saving this girl’s life. Levi doesn’t need to point the gun at my head. I’d do this anyway for anyone, even someone I loath. Even him.
My arms ache, but I keep going. Her depressed breastbone covered in waxy pale skin tells me I’ve probably broken her ribs or sternum, but that’s the least of my worries as I continue with the compressions. Beads of moisture gather on my forehead, my muscles burning, not wanting to give up for Ash’s sake, but she’s not responding.
Ash continues to blow into her mouth like I told him, each one filled with all his love as if he can breathe new life into her.
I swipe the tears away from my face, annoyed that I’m crying, but the tears aren’t for myself. They’re for Jodie and the shit life she’s had, they’re for my brother losing another person he cared for, and they’re for Jodie’s son, who’ll never know his mama.
“Ash, it’s no use. She’s gone.” My voice cracks, my shoulders slumping in defeat.
“No, she’s not. I promised her I’d take her to the coast.” His bloodshot eyes stare down at the shell of a woman between us. He holds her head in his hands, caressing her pale cheeks. “Jodie, come on, baby. We can still make that trip we talked about.”
I want to take all his pain away. Remembering Mrs Riley, I try again, if only so he can say goodbye.
“One more time.” He breathes into her mouth, all the air leaving his lungs as his chest caves.
I continue with the compressions, but Jodie’s lifeless body remains limp. She’s already checked out. As sad as all this is, I hope she’s at peace. I place my hand on Ash’s arm. “She’s gone, Ash. Let her go.” My throat closes up, clogged with emotion as I try to catch my breath.
With a ragged sigh, he looks up at me, his face sunken as sadness consumes the swell in his eyes. Then he looks over my shoulder, his face contorting to a snarl, his red eyes darkening, reminding me of the gun at my head and the asshole behind me.
With a loud, guttural, animalistic roar, Ash leaps up, lunging for Levi. “This is all your fault.”
I crawl behind the chair, my heart pounding in my chest as Ash wrestles Levi to the ground.
Ash has bulked up, but Levi has the weight behind him, hitting Ash in the face with the gun in his hand.
My voice dry, I croak out, “Please stop.” Fear grips me by the throat. I can’t lose Ash. I just can’t. I search for the phones Levi took from us, but find my bag instead, and reach inside for the can of pepper spray that Shane gave me.
I freeze as a loud bang pierces my ears. Everything muffles as if I’m underwater, and the only sound I hear is that of my blood pulsing through my veins. Holding my breath, I risk looking up, praying my brother’s all right.
