I knewIwas likely crushing her, butIstruggled to lift myself off her.Irolled to my side since that seemed easier, but asIlanded on my back,Ibecame aware of a sharp pain in my left leg.
I glanced down at the same timeIheardAceyell out, “You’vebeen shot!”
25
ANNA
Oh,God.Therewas so much blood.
It had all felt like it happened in slow motion.AsI’dfelt the slight recoil of the gun in my hand,Archer’sbody had hit me on my left side—hard.
AfterArcherhad rolled off of me,Ilooked up to see the vape guy on the ground withHectorstanding over him and holding the same gun he used to killGiovanni.
Realizing the vape guy was no longer a threat,I’dturned to look atArcher, and that was whenI’dseen the blood—a lot of blood—coming out ofArcher’sleft side.
“You’ve been shot!”I’dyelled.
“Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit,”Imumbled quickly, sitting upright and putting my hands over the wound on his left thigh, trying to stem the blood flow.
Hector came to my side, ripping off hisT-shirt, and gently pulled my hands offArcherso he could press the shirt toArcher’sthigh. “Pushthis down and hold,” he said to me and then stood and walked a few steps away.
“Hello,”Hectorsaid from behind me. “Yeah, this isOfficerHectorMadeira.Tellthem we need anEMThere now.Archertook aGSWto the leg.Gothrough the door behind the front desk, down the hallway to the last room on the left, through a closet in the room, and then down a set of stairs.”
I realized he must have picked up the phoneArcherhad had earlier when talking toVinceand relayed thatArcherhad a gunshot wound.
I focused onArcher, who was moaning asIpressed the shirt into his side.
“Sorry.Iknow it hurts, but hold still,”Itold him. “Helpis on the way.”
He started to close his eyes, either from the pain or because he was losing too much blood.Eitherway, it wasn’t good.
“Archer, stay awake.Donotclose your eyes.”
“Just need to rest them real quick,” he muttered softly.
“No, no, no.Stayawake,Archer.”Ikept one hand on the wound and moved my other to his face to slap his cheek lightly to wake him up.
“You promised me you’d be safe, dammit.Youcan’t leave me now,”Ibegged him.
“Ijust got you back.I’mnot leaving you now,” he muttered to me quietly, and his words tore my chest open. “Ilove you,Ace.Alwayshave, always will.”
My breath hitched at what he said, but beforeIcould say anything, his eyes closed and he went limp in my arms.
“No, no, no,”Iyelled. “Hector!”
I moved my hand back to his wound, pushing hard to try to keep any more blood from flowing out.
“Goddamn you,Archer.Ilove you, too, you stubborn man.Don’tyou dare leave me now.”
Something wet hit the back of my hands but it wasn’t blood.Irealized it was the tears streaming down my face.
Hector returned to my side, along with two other men dressed likeEMTs.
“Anna, you need to move so they can take care of him,”Hectorsaid to me gently, taking his hands and trying to remove mine.
“No, he’s lost too much blood,”Itold him frantically. “Ihave to keep it from coming out.”
“TheEMTscan do that,Anna.”Hectortried harder, pulling my arms away.
