Page 4 of Shot For Mercy

“Why?” he asks slowly. “Why the fuck are you sorry, Cole?”

“I need the doc,” I say in a rush, looking down at Matteo’s pale and sweaty face. I press the phone to my ear with my shoulder and slap him as he begins to close his eyes. The blood coming out of his wound seeps through my fingers, and I almost gag. I don’t have a weak stomach, but this is my best friend in the entire world. If he dies… I’ll burn the fucking world down. “Matteo has been shot.”

“Fuck!” Emiliano growls, the sound of a car starting in the background almost as loud as his shout. “Where the hell are you?”

“Warehouse five.”

“Be there in ten with the doc.”

“He doesn’t have ten minutes, Emiliano,” I say through gritted teeth, and more blood rushes out of Matteo’s wound. “You’re tired, aren’t you? Open your fucking eyes!” I yell at Matteo, and his eyes roll to the back of his head. “Shit.”

“I don’t give a fuck how tired he is!” Em yells, and I can hear tires screeching. “Keep him awake.”

“Hurry the fuck up,” I snap. “That fucking Russian is going to pay.”

“Who?”

“Andrey Sokolov.” And mark my words, he’s going to die. Even if it’s the last thing I ever do. “He’s the one who shot Matteo.”

“This is war,” he growls, then hangs up.

I drop my phone to the ground, taking off my shirt one-handed and pressing it to Matteo’s chest. His face is white as a sheet, his dark brown eyes looking up at the ceiling, a grimace on his face. But then his eyes connect with mine, and my heart begins to pound in my ears just as I feel his slow down.

“Cole…” Matteo whispers, and I shake my head rapidly. His hand wraps around my wrist, and he squeezes me roughly. “I love you, baby..”

I love you.

My heart trips and skips three beats, and my jaw drops. “Matteo?—”

“No, let me fucking say it,” he growls, and I hear a car pulling up. Probably Emiliano and the doctor, but I don’t dare take my eyes off Matteo. “If I’m gonna die, I’m going to tell you how I fucking feel.”

I gulp but nod.

“I love you,” he whispers, as if his voice is suddenly giving out. “Since the moment I met you. I’ve loved you. And if I make it out of this?—”

“You will,” I growl.

“—I want to be together.”

I gulp. “Matteo.”

“Fuck that,” he snaps. “If I’m going to die, the least you can do is lie to my face.”

“I don’t have to lie,” I whisper. “Idolove you.”

Just not as much as you love me.

I look over at Emiliano as he runs over to us, and our eyes connect. My stomach flutters, and a fire rages in my chest. It’s fucking scary what being in his vicinity does to me.

His deep brown gaze falters between Matteo and me, but his face is blank, devoid of any emotion. He doesn’t want to scare my best friend. Or maybe it’s both of us. He’s always protecting us.

And I’m sick of it.

I don’t need protection. I just needhim.

But even I know he would never give me a chance.

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