39. Hunter
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
hunter
The last thing I ever expected to see was all five feet of Emma Madden breaking down the door with a baseball bat, screaming at the top of her lungs, her rage brighter than a neon sign.
Wood splintered as the door flew open. Josh and Angela both turned in shock and surprise.
Hell, I could barely see. I could barely breathe. I was clutching my stomach, the pain unbearable.
But she was crystal clear...
And that terrified me because it meant the person I loved was in danger.
“They have a gun!” I rasped.
Emma was quicker than Josh or Angela. I started to try to sit up as she launched herself at Josh with the fury of a woman scorned. My mouth fell open as she took out his knee with the bat.
His bones crunched, his screams pitching as she kicked him to the floor.
A wave of pain rushed over me. My breaths turned rapid, my skin covered in a layer of sweat.
Angela screeched and raised the gun, aiming at Emma.
No, no, no.
I used every bit of strength I had left to kick my leg out, knocking her off balance.
The gun fired.
Everything stopped.
The bullet flew past Emma, imbedding into the door frame. My ears rang from the shot, but I kicked again, this time knocking Angela to the floor. She screeched, but Emma moved fast, kicking the gun out of her hand and then doing what I could only describe as a wrestler smackdown on Angela.
Josh’s screams pierced my ears. Fuck, I could barely see straight. I wheezed as I collapsed against the floor, curling into myself as I held pressure to my stomach.
Sirens grew louder, shouts followed. I closed my eyes, focusing on my heartbeat. I kept pressure on my wound and tried to breathe. It was all I could do now.
“Baby, baby.” Emma’s hands grasped my cheeks, her words panicked. “Oh god. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Fuck. I’m too late, I was too late. Where did they stab you? Where are you hurt?”
“Stomach,” I rasped.
Her hands slid down, applying pressure over mine.
“You’re not allowed to leave me. You can’t. Promise me.”
“I can’t promise that, sparks.”
“ Please .”
Please, please, please. I’d do my best. I wouldn’t let go without a fight. Not after everything we’d gone through.
She pulled me over onto my back. The pain pulled me out for a moment, everything fading and then flooding back in.
“ I love you. ”
I wasn’t sure if she said it or if I did. But I knew it was true either way.
Everything blurred together. I felt myself being moved, and heard the shouts of people I loved blending with voices of strangers.
Everything hurts.
Everything is cold.
Everything went dark.