Chapter Thirteen
“S avannah,” I cry into the phone, Lily’s cries in one ear, the paramedics’ voices in the other. Dean lost consciousness a few minutes ago, and a puddle of blood has started to bloom beneath him. Oh god. Someone shot him. He was fucking shot.
What the fuck is happening!?
“Sloane!?” Savannah calls. I don’t know how many times she’s said my name, but the snap of her voice tells me it’s been a few.
“He was shot,” I stutter.
“Who, Sloane? Who was shot?”
“Dean,” I sob, hot, fat tears rolling down my cheeks. “We were having breakfast, everything was fine. ”
“Where are you?” It isn’t Savannah now; it’s Killian, and his panic is palpable.
“North Avenue, by the library,” I swallow thickly, stomach rolling over. I think I’m going to puke.
“Where was he shot, Sloane?” Killian asks, no, demands.
“I don’t know!” I cry, “I don’t know, he’s bleeding, fuck. There’s a lot of blood. The ambulance is here.”
“Is he awake?”
“No,” I gag, as panic rises.
“We’re almost there,” Savannah is back on the phone, “Breathe, Sloane.”
“I can’t.”
Lily continues to scream, feeding off my energy. The police are shouting; Dean isn’t waking up. Everything is crumbling.
“Ma’am?” Someone touches my arm, and I startle. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“We’re almost there, Sloane,” Savannah assures.
There’s too much going on, too many people talking. What the fuck is happening!?
The phone slips from my hand, and I hear the screen crack against the sidewalk as both my arms come around Lily. I shield her with my body, holding her so tight, nothing will be able to break it.
“Ma’am,” They say again, “Ma’am, are you hurt?”
My eyes drag over to Dean, who is being moved onto a stretcher, his body lax and unmoving, eyes closed. Someone presses gauze to his shoulder, and his skin looks too pale, too sickly, and sweaty.
“Is he dead?” I whisper.
“Ma’am,” A police officer steps in front of me, shielding my view, “I need to ask you a few questions.”
I look past them to where Dean is being wheeled toward the waiting ambulance.
“Did you see the shooter?” The officer asks.
I shake my head.
“Do you know which way they were coming from?”
Moving Lily into one arm, I point down the street, but I have no idea if I am right. Dean’s now being loaded; the doors are being closed as the sirens start anew.
“Is he dead?” I repeat my question.
“Sloane!” Savannah’s voice cuts through the chaos.
“Who are you?” The officer cuts her off.
“She’s my family,” Savannah hisses at them, “She suffers from anxiety, and right now you’re not helping!”
“Is he dead?” I ask again. Why is no one answering me? It’s a really simple question. I just want to know.
Hands cradle my face, and I feel a tugging on my arms, which immediately sends me into defensive mode.
“You can’t have her!” I scream, shoving away so I can shield Lily from whoever is trying to take her.
“Sloane, it’s us,” Savannah’s face swims in front of my eyes, “It’s me and Killian.”
I can’t fucking breathe.
“Let her go, babe,” Savannah soothes, “Killian has her, and I’ve got you.”
“Is he dead?”
No answer.
“Someone fucking answer me!” I scream.
“No, ma’am,” It’s the officer who answers, “He’s on his way to the hospital.”
“Let her go,” Savannah orders softly, “Come on.”
“It’s okay,” Killian grabs my attention, “I’ve got her.”
“Are you sure?” I whisper.
“I’m sure,” He says gently, “Let her go so we can look after you.”
I hesitate for only a moment, but then I release Lily, and Killian spins away, taking her from me.
“Look at me, Sloane,” Savannah grasps my face. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head.
“Good, now I need you to breathe with me, okay?”
I nod, and she gives the same instructions Dean gave previously. We stand for several minutes, with sirens wailing and lights flashing, and breathe. Eventually, it becomes easier, lighter, and when I can finally draw in breath, I collapse against the side of the car.
“Ma’am, if you’d just like to–”
“No,” I snap at the paramedic.
“They just want to check you out,” Savannah says.
“Sav, no,” I shake my head, “I can’t.”
Realization dawns on her, “She’s okay, really.”
“She appears pale and sweaty, shock can be quite dangerous.”
“We have a doctor on retainer, I’ll take her right there now,” Savannah says, but it’s like it’s coming through a funnel. I just want to see Dean, to know he’s okay with my own eyes.
They argue a little more, but it’s Savannah, and if anything, she’s stubborn, so she wins, leaving us alone for a few minutes at the car.
“Are you okay?” She asks me quietly.
“I think so,” I reply.
“What do you need?” She rubs my arms as chaos continues to rage around us.
“He saved my life.”
“You want to see Dean?” She presses. “We can go right now.”
I nod.
“Let’s go,” She links her arm with mine, “Killian can take you.”
“Wait!” I stop dead, “Lily needs her car seat.”
“Wait here,” She stops us and forces me to take a seat on a nearby step, “I’ll get it.”
She darts off, so I take a minute to draw in my surroundings.
There are several police cars parked in such a way that they block off the entire street, and three ambulances remain.
Paramedics are working on someone in front of the library, while the others hang back and watch, and police officers question people on both sides of the street.
Savannah jogs back to me with Lily’s car seat, and I get up to meet her, walking at her side to where Killian waits beside her small Fiat.
I don’t know why the sight makes me laugh, but the giggle bursts from me regardless.
“What?” Savannah asks as Killian looks at me skeptically.
“I expected the Audi.”
It’s not funny in the slightest, so I’ve no idea why I can’t stop laughing. I feel a little manic and a whole lot stressed.
“Come on,” Sav says softly, “Let’s go find Dean.”