Klaus and Evan got to me first, before Anson swept in and grabbed Ellis and took her out of the room as she continued to cry and call out for me.
“Hey, hey, stay with me,” Evan said, holding me in his arms. “Ryder. Hey.”
“Fuck,” I choked out. “A-Am I fucking shot?”
“Put pressure on it,” Klaus said, falling to his knees beside me and putting a cloth against my chest.
“Am I shot?” I repeated, my head dizzy and nausea rolling through me.
“Yeah,” Evan said, an edge of worry in his voice. “Klaus?—”
“I know. I got it,” Klaus said tightly, pulling his phone out. I heard him rattling off information, so I assumed he’d called an ambulance.
Anson came in and went to his knees next to me as Klaus moved away to speak to 9-1-1.
He held my hand tightly.
“Hey,” he said, his voice thick.
“Rosalie. E-Ellis,” I said, wincing at the pain that was now ebbing across my chest and back. It was hard to pull in air.
“They’re OK. Rosalie has Ellis. They’re safe. Just try to be calm,” Anson said, his voice rough as he held my hand.
“H-How bad is it?”
“It’s… It’s OK, man,” Evan said, clearly fucking lying to me. “I think it hit your shoulder. Your chest. Might have been a spray, like fucking shotgun shit. Just breathe. Concentrate on remaining calm. Help is coming.”
“Calm?” I laughed bitterly, tasting blood in my mouth. “I-I was fucking shot.”
“Did you see who did it?” Anson asked.
“No.” I shook my head and winced at the pain. “I-I didn’t see anyone. There-There was a package. I think it exploded. I-I heard a loud pop. My ears are ringing.”
“Klaus, there’s a package outside the door,” Evan called out. “Tell the cops.”
“We need to move you away from the door,” Anson said. “In case whatever it was explodes again or there’s more.”
“G-Get Rosalie out. T-Take her to the roof. Please,” I begged softly. “Take Ellis.”
“Evan.” Anson looked at him.
“On it.” Evan left my side, and I let out a shaky breath as Klaus took his place, off the phone now.
Klaus and Anson lifted me and moved me away from the door. I let out a soft cry at the pain, knowing I was covered in blood. I could feel it pouring out of me. There was a red streak on the floor from me.
“E-Ellis. She saw. Please. Is she-she OK?” I choked out. The pain was growing, and it was getting harder to breathe. All I kept thinking about was how I’d leave this world without Rosalie knowing how I felt.
“She’s good, man,” Anson said tightly. “She was just scared.”
“S-She was playing. I-It could have been her. W-What if sh-she’d answered the door?” Tears rolled down my cheeks at the horror of that.
“She wouldn’t have,” Klaus said softly. “She knows not to answer the door.”
“But what if?—”
“She didn’t, man. She’s OK. She’s OK. I promise.” Anson kissed my knuckles.
“I’m tired,” I whispered, my lashes fluttering.
