Page 2 of Broken By Silence
“He’s in shock,” Archer mutters. “Too much blood loss. If the idiot had driven himself to the hospital, he wouldn’t be in this state, but it didn’t hit his heart. Low enough, it might’ve missed major arteries, and I can’t see an exit wound.”
Archer’s mom calls out from the kitchen. “The ambulance is almost here. Three minutes.”
Three minutes.
Roman might not have three minutes.
I press harder, even as Roman grunts in pain.
Good. If he’s acknowledging the pain, then he’s alive.
His hand twitches like he’s reaching for me, but I can’t reach for it, no matter how much I want to.
My hands are soaked in him, my arms trembling from the pressure.
“You don’t get to die,” I whisper. “You don’t get to die, Roman Valen. Not here. Not in front of me and certainly not before I get my revenge. I’m not done with you yet…”
Roman’s eyes flutter open—barely. Blood runs from the corner of his mouth.
He doesn’t speak, but I see how his eyes flicker, glazed… no longer here.
“No!” I cry. “No goodbye. You don’t get to?—”
His hand jerks.
His eyes close again.
He stops breathing.
“Archer!” I look to him, eyes pleading with him to save my tormentor.
“I’ve got him—” Archer starts chest compressions. “Dad, help me!”
Oscar hauls me out of the way, pulling me to stand as I watch helplessly from the side. Will moves fast, taking my place, but his hands are steady.
Together they work over Roman’s chest like they’ve done before, but I can’t move.
I can’t breathe.
I don’t pray.
I don’t believe after everything I’ve been through.
But I do now because Roman doesn’t get to show up bleeding and broken just to warn me.
He doesn’t get to say sorry like he finally meant it.
He’s not allowed to leave this all undone.
I cry so hard it hurts. “Come on, you stubborn bastard.”
The front door slams open. Paramedics flood the room like angels of mercy and war, shouting orders and stabilising Roman enough to move him. One of them puts oxygen on him. Another checks his vitals. There’s a burst of movement, a voice saying, “Got a pulse,” and my legs collapse under me.
Oscar catches me before I hit the ground.
“He’s breathing, Lottie,” Archer says, voice hoarse. “He’s still here.”
But for how long?
