Page 70 of Wicked Oath
I snuggle into his chest. “Just no more keeping secrets.”
“I promise.” James smiles at me before frowning and stumbling forward as a loud gunshot fires off.
“James?” I try to hold him up, but he slips from my arms and falls to the ground. “James!” Blood is beginning to pool from his chest. I look around to see the man called Jacob lying on the ground, his gun lifted and pointed at James, a twisted smile on his face. He must have fired the shot.
Owen storms over and shoots Jacob in the head before he can fire off another round.
I turn back to James, who’s slowly dying before my eyes. “James. James!”
As his eyes flutter shut and his breathing stops, I feel like I might die myself.
“James!”
CHAPTER19
Olivia
“Hurry, we need to save him!” I look up at Owen, who’s standing over us, hesitating. “Owen. Put your grudge aside with James and help save his life.”
Patrick pushes Owen out of the way and helps me lift James and place him in his car. “We’ll get him to the hospital. Trust me, Olivia. I’ll make sure he stays alive.”
“Thank you,” I breathe out, hugging my dad quickly. “Owen! Come on.”
He snaps out of whatever is going on with him and gets in the car. I’m in the backseat with James, keeping his head propped up. More blood spills from his chest.
“We need to hurry!” I press my hands into his chest to try to stop the bleeding, but all it does is makes my hands red. It’s a surreal thought that I’m covered in James’ blood.
Dad drives as fast as he can to the nearest hospital, and I appreciate his support. He seemed truly regretful of hurting James’ father, and I hope he and James can keep their alliance going forward. It’s Owen I’m worried about. James spared his life, and yet Owen still hesitated to save him. He’ll need to get over his hatred of James if he ever expects us to remain a family.
I breathe a sigh of relief when we reach the hospital. As my dad jumps out of the car to get help, I stay in the back, kissing James’ head. “You’re going to be all right. Ok? Trust me on that.”
The back car door opens, and a group of nurses and doctors help get James onto a gurney before wheeling him into the hospital.
As I step out of the car, I watch them take my husband away. Dad comes up beside me and squeezes my arm. “He’ll be fine. I know in my gut.”
“Dad, what if the police come asking questions? We brought in a man with a gunshot to his chest. That’s suspicious.”
He pats my arm. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ve been in this business for a long time. I know how to evade cops and tell a good story. We’ll be fine, too.”
Owen sighs as he rounds the car and offers me a smile. “I hope for your sake he survives.”
I smack his chest. “How could you hesitate to help?”
“Hey, I’m still getting used to this truce between James and me. It doesn’t mean I like him in an instant. It’s going to take time.”
“You still could have helped! James spared your life, and you were going to leave him to die. How could you, Owen?”
He hangs his head. “I know. I’m sorry. Not my finest moment. I’m trying, ok? Just give me time.”
“I know you have bad blood with James, but he’s my husband, which means you need to get used to him. If you don’t, I want nothing to do with you.”
He nods slowly. “Understood. I’ll try harder in the future. I promise.”
“Now’s not the time to fight, kids,” Dad cuts in. “Owen, I trust you to do better in the future. And Olivia? James will be all right, honey.”
“Will he be punished for attacking your shipment?” The thought has been going around in my mind for a while.
“I think we can all agree he’s been punished enough. He told us that he sent his men after his own warehouse to make things even between us. He’s lost all his men. And now, he’s gotten shot. I think he’s proven himself worthy enough of our family. Of you, honey. When he survives this, he’ll have full amnesty. As long as he vows never to attack another one of my shipments again.”
