Page 115 of Carson

“I’ll take care of it,” he says, jogging the rest of the way down the stairs.

“Did you get ahold of Doc?”

“Yeah, he’s on his way. Are you hurt?”

“No, but she is.” I drop to the floor, listening. She’s whispering again.

“Somewhere safe. Somewhere far away. Please, God, take me somewhere safe.”

Dirk sits down at the end of the bed, placing his head in his hands.

“Luna, Luna, sweetheart, whoever that was that was chasing you is tied up. He can’t hurt you.”

Her chanting stops, but she doesn’t open the door.

“I’m going to open the door now. I need to take a look at your wound.”

Slowly, I open it, finding her curled in a little ball with her eyes closed.

“Honey, it’s Carson’s dad. Can you please open your eyes.”

She shakes her head, hugging herself tighter. Her shirt is soaked in blood, and her hands are covered in it.

I look at Dirk, feeling fucking helpless. I can’t just reach in and grab her, knowing the trauma she’s faced. She has to come to me.

“Sweetie, just come to me. I promise you are safe.”

“I’ll go downstairs and wait for the Doc. I’ll get Jesse over here.”

As soon as Dirk walks out of the room, she dives into my arms.

“Oh, honey. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”

“Please don’t make me leave here,” she rasps.

“I won’t. You can stay here as long as you like.”

She hugs me tighter.

“Can I take a look at your wound? Did that motherfucker shoot you?”

Slowly she pulls away, kneeling in front of me.

The blood on her hands seems to surprise her. She looks confused. “He … he shot me?”

“Let me take a look and see what we’re dealing with.”

She pulls up her shirt, holding it under her chin. Her fingers search for a hole.

“I’m going to have Dirk bring us some towels, so we can clean you up, okay?”

Her eyes snap to mine, and I can tell she’s in shock.

“Dirk, can you grab us some wet towels. I think the bullet just grazed her. I’m not seeing an entry point.”

“Be right there!” he yells back.

Luna looks at the blood on her shaking hands. “He was going to take me.”