Page 70 of Kyle
"I have money." She told him hoarsely. "My purse is in the car--"
"I don't need your money."
He was advancing, his hand waving.
"I was given a job to do and I'm gonna do it. She wants you dead. You took her man from her, and she wants you dead."
He shrugged thin shoulders.
"Personally, I don't see what the fuss is all about, but to each his own. Get on your knees."
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"Get on your knees lady."
"So you can shoot me in the head? Who sent you to kill me?"
He grinned.
"I think you're a smart woman and should already figure that out. She hates your guts."
The sound of a vehicle approaching had her knees weakening and him distracted. It gave her the perfect opportunity toscream, and she did so with a vengeance and started running. The bullet caught her in the left shoulder and had her falling onto her side.
He raced over and would have finished the job if he hadn't heard someone shouting. The pain was excruciating, tearing through her body like thousands of spikes. As she drifted into unconsciousness, she heard her brother's shout as he charged into the building.
"Ingrid-- Oh Jesus Christ! Cal, my sister. It's my sister. Go after the bastard. Hold on baby."
Dragging off his jacket, he padded the shoulder and used his phone to call it in.
"Hurry, she's bleeding out. Hang in there baby. I got you."
His heart was pounding so hard, he could barely hear anything else. Not even when his partner came running in.
"Ambo's on the way. Patrol caught the bastard on Third Street. Still had the smoking gun."
"Where the hell is that ambulance? Jesus, I have to call her husband."
*****
He was sure it was a nightmare and any minute now, he would wake up and find her lying next to him. Or he was in an alternate universe, where nothing made sense. The waiting room was crowded. They had been given a private one, large and equipped with refreshments.
The scent of coffee permeated the air. It made him sick to his stomach. He had been on his way out of the building with the intention of calling her to find out if she was home yet, when he got the call from Matthew. Then his entire world had upended. Now all they could do was wait, wait, wait.
Everyone was here. Even her mother who had made a beeline for him, touching him, speaking to him. He had sent her away with a sharp word. He could not be touched. He did not want to talk to anyone.
Someone had shot his wife. Right now, she might be dying. No, no, no. She has to live. Please God, if you have any sense of compassion or love, please don't let her die.
His eyes darted to her brother, and he felt the pounding of his heart as he stared at the blood on his jeans. His wife's blood. The room spun with him, and he had to lean back and take deep breaths. He was going to pass out.
He jerked and opened his eyes at the light touch on his arm.
"Let me get you some coffee."
"No."
He shuddered out a breath as he looked at his father.
