Page 69 of Sapphire's Gem
I hoped I’d covered enough of Cassidy that he might survive. The last bullet hit me as shouting flooded the warehouse. I stared, unmoving, as uniforms appeared and the two gang members were spotted. The guy helping the wounded one shot at a uniform, and officers fired upon him in return. He went down with four bullets in him. Hope that fuckin’ hurt, because I was in agony.
“Over here! Shit, get the EMTs they’re both hit. Detective Wylde is in a state!” a uniform yelled.
He was a nice guy. Wishing I’d got to know him better, I think he’d make a great detective. Yeah, maybe he could have my job.
Sapphire
“What’s going on?” I asked, noting the flurry of nurses outside my hospital room.
“There’s been a firefight at a warehouse. Three cops were injured, and they’ve got three dead gang members and two injured. Some escaped,” Belladonna replied.
“Do we know who they were?”
Belladonna exchanged a look with Sparrow. My gut twisted. I just knew what she was going to say.
“Wylde and Cassidy are in a bad condition. They’ve both been raced to the OR. The third cop took a through-and-through shot to the shoulder. He’s fine.”
“Wylde’s been injured?” I hissed, sitting up.
Belladonna held my gaze.
“Both he and Cassidy are critical. Cassidy lost a lot of blood, and he crashed in the ambulance. Wylde…” Belladonna broke off.
“Wylde was flatlining when they brought him in. Rumours are that they got his pulse back on the way to the OR. They don’t expect him to live,” Sparrow said bluntly.
I hissed as shock and pain raced through me. Wylde couldn’t die. I was confused about my emotions with him, but I knew I definitely didn’t want him to die.
“Get Stitch,” I ordered as I swung my legs out of bed.
“What are you doing?” Sparrow hissed.
“Discharging myself. I was being let go tomorrow, anyway.” I’d been kept in longer than planned as I’d caught an infection. That was now under control, and I was leaving.
“Get me Stitch, now!” I raised my voice, and Belladonna nodded as she mind-spoke to Stitch. “Sparrow, contact the snitches, find me these fuckers that escaped. Put a reward out for them. Make it clear, if I discover someone is protecting them, the RHMC will hold them culpable as well,” I ordered.
Sparrow nodded and stepped away to use the phone.
Belladonna handed me my clothes, and I headed into the bathroom with the bundle of fabric. Luckily, I’d already showered, so it was just a matter of dressing. I couldn’t be assed to mess with my hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. When I exited, a wheelchair was waiting, as was a nurse with forms for me to sign.
I signed them quickly, glared at the wheelchair, and prepared to argue.
“Use it and don’t bother arguing. It’s their policy, and you’ll get out of here quicker,” Belladonna said.
“Fine!” I snapped. I shuffled into it and sat. Belladonna took the handles and pushed me out of the room, and we headed towards the elevator.
“I’ll take her from here,” Belladonna said to the nurse following us.
She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m responsible until she passes through the exit doors.”
Agitated, I folded my arms and glared at them both, but wisely held my tongue. Belladonna sent me a shit-eating grin and wheeled me into the elevator and out into the waiting room.
A sea of blue greeted us, and I knew why. In the centre, standing with two other guys, was Hatton. We locked eyes, and I nodded. Lips pursed, worry on his brow, Hatton nodded at me. I allowed them to wheel me out and then jumped out of the chair and headed straight back inside.
“Please leave us,” Hatton murmured to the guys with him. “Sapphire, what can I do to help you?”
“What happened, Hatton?” I demanded.
“What does it matter to you?” he replied.
