Page 70 of Trust In Me

Fuck, Shay’s in the way. I can’t get a clear shot.

“Shay. Drop, now!” I scream, and Shay reacts on instinct, dropping to the floor, her high-pitched scream echoing through the room as a loud bang overtakes it. Kyle’s gun doesn’t have a silencer the way all ours do, so the shot is loud, causing my ears to ring. My shot hits the target and Lionel drops to the floor behind Shayla. Once I’m sure he’s dead, lying beside where Shayla is kneeling with her back to me, I finally turn to my girl.

I scoop her in my arms as gently as I can and I wipe the sweat-coated strands of hair from her face. “Fuck, Flower. I always knew seeing you in a wedding dress would be the death of me, but this is ridiculous,” I joke, and thankfully Mia laughs in between her sobs.

“Oh, fuck. Kellan, don’t make me laugh. It hurts. Should I take the knife out? It hurts so much,” she sobs, and I quickly shake my head, putting my hands over hers to prevent her from pulling the knife out.

“No, baby. You need to keep it in until the paramedics arrive. Just stay strong please, Flower. I need you to be okay. I don't think I can live without you.” All the emotion I’ve been holding back since I found out she went missing, come rushing forward and sobs rack my body as I hold my beautiful girl in my arms. “I thought I was going to lose you, Mia. Please, don’t ever leave me.”

“Shush, Kellan. I’m here and I promise I won’t ever leave you again. I’m sorry I lied to you before. Of course I want to be with you. I want forever with you and Hallie, and I shouldn’t have said any different. I don’t want to live another day without you,” Mia sobs as she gently presses her lips against mine. It’s short and sweet, but fuck is it everything I’ve longed for.

Gasps of breath and sobs from beside me pull my attention and I turn towards Shayla. She no longer has her back towards me, and now I can see her fully, panic sets in. Blood is seeping out of three large wounds over her chest and abdomen, she has a cut that’s dripping blood across the side of her neck, and she has a knife protruding from her left rib cage. It’s no wonder she’s gasping for breath. There’s no way on this earth that knife hasn’t punctured her lung.

Gently, I lay Mia down and apologise for leaving her, but she gives me a small smile and tells me to go. As I close the short distance to Shay, I shout out to Bree. “How long until the ambulance gets here. Shay is in a bad way, and I’m sure Mia isn’t far behind. Fuck, Bree, we need help now.”

I scoop Shayla into my arms as best I can while Bree replies. “They’re only a few minutes out, Kel. I’ve told them to step on it.”

Seeing the blood pouring out of Shay’s wounds, I know I need to stop the bleeding somehow. As gently as I can without moving her too much, I take off my security vest and then my shirt. I rip it in half and press it against the two knife wounds that appear to be causing the most problems.

“Wow, I didn’t think I would ever see you strip for me again. Don’t tell my husband, but you aren’t bad to look at,” Shayla jokes, coughing up blood. I pull her close, my eyes continually looking over at Mia to make sure she’s okay. She’s still conscious, but she’s getting pale, though not as quickly as Shay is.

“I have to tell Whiskey that, you know how much I love messing with that guy,” I joke and Shay’s smile breaks my heart. For a split second, all I can see is the poor, broken girl, abused by her family, who turned to me for help. The beautiful girl who helped make the most important person in my world, Hallie.

“I’m sorry for everything, Kellan,” Shay starts, and I cut her off.

“Don’t. You don’t have to apologise.” If you had told me a couple of days ago that I would say that to Shayla, and that I would mean it, I’d have told you to fuck off. But, it’s true, or at least, it is while I’m fuelled by emotion and adrenaline. She’s the reason I get to take my girl home, and I will forever owe her for that.

“Please, Kellan, let me get this out. We both know I’m dying and I can’t go without getting this off my chest,” she pleads and my eyes fill with tears.

“You aren’t dying,” I sob, not entirely sure I believe my own words.

“I am, and of course I wish I wasn’t. I was just starting to get my shit together, to really be the Old Lady that Whiskey deserves. Please tell him how much I love him…to the moon and back.” Whenever she tries to talk too much, her breathing becomes more laboured and shallow. With every cough, she splutters more blood, and my heart breaks for the girl I once thought I loved. Even if it wasn’t the type of love I feel for Mia, I cared for her more than I ever had anyone else, and the love we shared made Hallie.

“You need to hold on, to tell him yourself,” I cry, and she nods her head.

“Kellan, I need you to know, you were never a target. I left Hallie and you because I thought it was the only choice I had. The Reapers made it clear I’d only earned one freedom, and if I took it then Hallie had to stay with them. They said I could stay with her if I chose, but only one could leave. I couldn’t have her growing up like I did. Abused, tortured, beaten daily by the people who call themselves family. She deserves a better life, and I knew you could give her that. Taking your money was payment for Hallie’s freedom. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you this before, but you would have tried to fix it, and I didn’t want that. I just wanted Hallie safe. You’re a great dad, Kellan, and Mia will make a great mum to Hallie. You have my permission to be happy, not that you need it.” It takes her a long time to get the words out, in between gasps of breath and coughing up blood. The words penetrate my soul and I feel so lost.

For the last several months, almost a year, I’ve spent all that time vilifying Shayla. Making her the enemy of my story, but all along she was the victim too. She’s a victim of the Reapers, and everything she’s ever done has been for Hallie.

My heart breaks as I think of all the awful things I thought. How many times did I wish her dead? And now she’s laying in my arms, and I have to watch as the light fades from her once sparking green eyes.

“I had no idea. Shay, I’m so sorry. You have to live, you have to fight. Our little girl needs to know her mum is a fighter. I promise, when that little angel gives you a hug, you will know why you need to stay strong.” I wipe the tears from her eyes and move the stray hair from her forehead.

“You would really let me see her?” she asks, hope ringing in her words.

“Yeah, I don’t see why not.” At first I wonder if I’m just saying this to get Shayla to fight, to give her something to live for. I’ve never wanted her to be part of Hallie’s life before, and I know I will never give her custody or any kind of permanent access, but the odd visit I can definitely get on board with. I don’t ever want Hallie growing up and thinking I kept her mother from her.

I hear a commotion coming from the doorway, and I hold Kyle’s gun out, just in case the people trying to get in are a threat to us. As soon as I see it’s Liam, I drop the gun and sag to the floor. If Liam’s here, the threat has been neutralised and the paramedics can come in as soon as they get here, if they aren’t already.

Whiskey’s sob shatters through the room and I hear him before I see him running towards us. He looks at a very battered and broken Shayla in my arms and the big, strong biker disappears. In his place is a scared, young guy who’s about to lose the love of his life. Without saying a word, I gently pass Shayla over to Whiskey, who takes her in his arms, and the smile that lights up her face is beautiful. There’s no denying the love they share, it’s almost painful to witness.

“Babe, you promised me you were going to stop putting your life in danger. I know you want to make amends, but killing yourself is not the way to do that,” Jamieson cries, as he places little kisses along her forehead. Shay almost hums in appreciation, but it’s getting harder for her to breathe and to keep her eyes open. I can feel her body getting colder in mine.

“Kellan has agreed I can have a cuddle from Hallie when I’m better. So, obviously it did work,” she says, sticking her tongue out at the end, which causes Jamieson to laugh, even as the tears continue to fall.

I see Liam go to Mia out of the corner of my eye, and she’s looking at him and talking to him, which reassures me. I want to go to her, but right now, Shayla needs me more, and I know Mia gets that.

“Thank you,” Jamieson says, and I realise he’s speaking to me. “Giving Hallie up broke Shay, and she’s only just starting to get her shit back together. I have plans to take down the old Reapers, and replace it with the next generation. I want to make Shay’s life safer for her. But, no matter how much I rid her of her demons, you’re the one that will make her day by letting her see Hallie.”

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