I run a hand through my hair, sniffling as my words become a jumbled mess. “I-I don’t think so…”
“Hey, listen to me,” Sergey says softly like a father comforting his own child. “Everything will be okay, yeah? This is not the first time he has gone silent.”
“Not the first time?!” I rage, fisting my hair at my temples as my knees almost buckle. “Sergey, something is wrong! I can feel it in my gut—”
“Okay, okay,” he murmurs reassuringly. “I’m getting in my car now. Contact Saint and ask him if he’s seenSmertitoday.”
There’s a heavy thud from the other side of the front door. I stop, my head whipping around to the sound as something scrapes against the steps. My heart thumps painfully as the blood rushes past my ears.
“…Melody?” Sergey calls, and I realize he’s been saying my name on repeat.
“Someone’s here,” I whisper faintly, my hands beginning to shake as my vision tunnels.
There’s someone out there…
All traces of gentle nature vanish from the guard’s voice as he barks his command. “Don’t open that door! I need you to hide, Melody! Find a room you can lock yourself in.”
I don’t blink as whoever is outside groans. It’s a pained whine, almost like a ghost. The sound of a body hitting the steps makes me jump in shock as my heart ricochets around my ribcage.
Then I realize that I know that voice…
I ignore the guard’s screaming on the other end of the phone as I race to the door. My fingers are trembling so hard that they can barely hold the handle before I force myself to choke down a steadying breath and push past the threshold. At first, I don’t see anything. Not beyond my frantic searching in the darkness.
Until I look down and my blood runs cold.
I can tell Kaden tripped coming up the steps. His hand is braced on the top one while his other arm curls around his abdomen. His head is tucked, so he can’t see me, but my eyes are raking over him with a sharpness. His shoulders are shaking as his breath comes out in quick pants. He’s coiled tightly, every movement restrained and edged with sluggish exhaustion.
I stare at him with wide, rounded eyes of fear as my sight drifts downward. I stop breathing the moment I see it.
Blood.
It’s oozing through his t-shirt and jacket, dripping onto the cement of our steps like a stark crime scene that I’m forced to bear witness to. As the thick essence falls, smaller specks splatter around it, making a horrid painting out of my broken husband’s suffering.
I don’t think—don’t breathe—as I fall to my knees in front of him. My phone clatters to the ground, Sergey’s yelling causing Kaden’s head to rip up at the very moment I cradle his face in my hands. Sweat slicks his brow, making his hair stick to his temple as his eyes widen at the sight of me.
“You’re bleeding…” I mumble, my voice trembling.
The fuckersmilesat me as his breath skates heavily past his lips. “I told you I would…be home for…six…”
If he weren’t hurt, I wouldslaphim.
“You’re shaking…like a leaf,” he chuckles weakly. “I’m fine, Sunny.”
I suck in a breath, my eyes screwing shut as my nose wrinkles. I’m beyond relieved he’s alive, but so fucking mad. My veins sizzle as everything tips over. “YOU’RE FUCKING BLEEDING!”
He flinches, his lips pulling over his teeth. “Yeah…”
“What happened?!” I shout.
“Gotshot,” he huffs, a humorless laugh. “It was…my fault. I didn’t…search the supplier.”
I shake my head raggedly, blinking back the tears that are threatening to fall as I paw at his chest. “We—we have to get you inside.”
He nods before planting a hand on the railing and forcing himself up with jagged movements. I wrap my arm around his back, my eyes trained on the wetness that’s growing across his abdomen.
“Eyes up here, pretty girl,” he commands, making my gaze snap to him. “Don’t look at it. I’m fine, okay?”
I nod, still shaken as I guide him inside. I’m not even sure I’m helping as he shuffles over the doorway with groans of pain. Each sound pierces my heart like a knife, and I have to close my eyes as we near the dining room table.
