I dropped to my knees, my scrubs immediately soaked with blood. Luckily, I had a pair of gloves from the hospital in my pocket and snapped them on. The bullet wound was to the chest and I knew right then that there was little I could do for him, not without an immediate evac to a hospital.
“W-why?” he gasped, looking at me in confusion.
“Why would I want to help you?” I shrugged, offering a tight smile. “I’m a nurse.”
I had nothing but distraction at my disposal. “Where are you from?” I asked gently.
“Birmingham,” he gasped.
“Ah, the south,” I murmured. “Never got used to the heat,” I shared. “Damn good barbeque though.”
“The best,” he agreed on a wince before he began to cough, violent hacks that spelled the end. “S-sorry,” he managed, blood slipping through his lips.
I nodded, not accepting his apology or condemning him for his mistakes. I took his hand, squeezing gently as he took his last breath.
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Thompson crooned with a snort. “Get your ass up, he’s dead.”
I glared at him, rising to my feet. My scrubs were soaked with blood, the feeling familiar and yet not something I ever got used to. “So what’s the plan?” I asked boldly.
“The plan,” he rumbled, his eyes blazing with emotions I couldn’t identify other than anger, “is for you to shut. The. Fuck. UP!” he roared.
I had no desire to poke the beast further and nodded mutely as Laurie pulled me to her side, where we stood for what felt like hours but could have been mere minutes as he paced like a man possessed.
I was desperately thirsty and knew Laurie had to be too. We stood sweating and scared, waiting for whatever came next. I hated feeling so helpless. Hated not knowing where Mason was, if he was safe.
Sanders lay staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, his lifeless face ashen. I tried not to look but his ill-timed fate couldn’t help but make me fear for my own.
This wasn’t how I ended. Couldn’t be.
Thompson became increasingly agitated, muttering to himself, gun in hand as he paced.
“Call him,” he decided finally, his eyes on me.
“Who?” I asked in confusion.
“Your man.” He shoved a cell phone in my face. “Call him. Tell him I’ll exchange you for ten grand and to be able to drive outta here.”
What?
“Um, okay,” I replied, all too eager to get on the phone with Cal. But this felt too easy somehow. Was this really his master plan? I dialed Cal’s number and held the phone to my ear, eager to hear his voice.
“Baby.” Cal’s voice was like a balm to my senses.
“How—” I started to ask how he knew it was me when I wasn’t calling from my phone.
“Got eyes on you, babe.” His declaration sent another tidal wave of sweet relief through me. He was here. He was close. “Minute we hang up, hit the deck, all right?” His command came without delay, no doubt knowing we had very little time. “We’ve been waiting for a clear shot.”
“Okay,” I agreed breathlessly. “Mason?” I demanded.
“He’s okay.”
“Thank God,” I choked out.
“Stop fucking yapping and give him my terms! Ten G’s and I get to walk away— within the hour. We’ll call him back with a location.” Thompson exclaimed in agitation.
“He wants ten thousand dollars and the ability to leave free and clear,” I repeated to Cal.
“You tell that motherfucker I’ll meet his terms. But I want you to know he’s not gonna be breathing in another minute,” he growled, reaffirming what I’d already thought. His tone softened as he continued. “I got you, baby. It’s gonna be okay.”
