Page 49 of Waiting Game

Both from law enforcement and the media.

Which was the last thing that we needed at the moment.

I had faith in the doctor on The Family’s payroll, he was experienced especially in these types of injuries. He had patched up each of us before at one point or another. It was just another casualty of the job, of the way we chose to live. But it all felt so much worse with the way that Valerie was looking at me.

“I’ll be fine, bunny,” I said quietly.

“You don’t know that,” she said, her voice tense.

“Sure I do,” I smiled.

She rolled her eyes at me, “you’re in shock right now. You’re not going to be so chipper once the adrenaline wears off. You need medical attention.”

“Well I’m lucky that I brought a nurse with me.”

“Stop joking around. This is serious, Ren. You got fucking shot. Because of me,” she said.

“Not because of you. We’ve been expecting this for a long time. My only regret is that you had to witness me like that,” I grunted as I shifted my position, trying to get comfortable.

“Stop moving,” she scolded, pressing her fingers harder against the wound.

It was hard to keep still with the way that Rome sped through the city, weaving in and out of traffic. She was not phased by red lights or stop signs, and people honked and blared their horns whenever Rome would narrowly cut them off.

We got flung side to side in the backseat until we reached the driveway.

Valerie was right, the pain was getting more and more noticeable, but I tried to not let it show. The panic was already radiating off of her, and I didn’t want to make it worse. I kept my eyes focused on her face, letting her presence calm me.

She was here.

And if I was going to die, at least I got to hold her again before I did.

Then the car screamed to a halt and Rome got out, running towards the house.

We watched her sprint up the steps, and then I looked up at Val.

“Hey,” I said, reaching up for her face as she tried to hide the fact that she was crying, “it’s going to be alright.”

She wiped her nose on her sleeve, “how can you say that?”

“Because I can’t die,” I smiled, “if I die, I’ll never see you again. So I just won’t do that.”

She laughed slightly, shaking her head at me.

My vision started to darken, and now I could definitely feel the pulsing pain.

The bullet had hit my side, right above my hip, but now the pain was spreading throughout my whole torso. My shirt clung to my stomach, the blood was soaking through the layers of clothing and bandages.

“Promise that you won’t leave until I’m awake. Not without telling me. Not again,” I managed.

“I promise,” she sniffled.

The car door opened again, and Antoni’s face came into vision.

“Feeling good? Feeling like a hero?” he smirked down at me.

“Fuck yeah,” I smiled.

“Stop fucking jerking about and help him!” Valerie snapped.

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