I take a deep breath and rise to my feet. Looking around, I find Dr. Liberman still in the room with us.
I wipe my face and ask him, “Can I see him?”
“The nurses are prepping him for transfer. Once he’s settled, they’ll come get you.”
“Thank you.”
He gives me another look and says, “I’m sorry.” He looks around, searching for someone. “The medic said there was someone at the scene who did CPR.” It wasn’t a question, but an answer is expected.
“Jake was there,” I say quietly and point to the ex-cop with a bad history who’s been hiding in the corner the whole time. I don’t think anyone has talked to him the whole day—or is it night?
“Good job.” The doctor gives him a quick nod of appreciation. “He wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you.”
Jake averts his eyes and chews on his lip. But the doctor’s words sure draw everyone’s attention, and they’re all staring at a rapidly pinkening Jake. The doctor doesn’t notice the tension and keeps going.
“I don’t know exactly how long he’d been dead—”
My heart skips a beat at his words.
“—but your action saved his life. You should be proud, young man.”
Now, Jake’s cheeks are totally red. He nods at the doctor and quickly looks back down at his shoes.
With that, the doctor departs. I start walking toward Jake.
“Leila?” Justin calls out, but I don’t care.
When I reach Jake, I throw myself at him and wrap my arms around his torso, squeezing him as tight as I can.
“Thank you,” I murmur into his chest. “Thank you so much, Jake.”
He clears his throat before he speaks.
“Sure.” His voice comes out gruff.
“Thank you,” I repeat again and finally pull away. “Thank you, Jake.”
He nods and takes a careful step back. I take a deep breath, smile at him one more time, and turn to face my family. They might mourn him because they know the old Archie, but I know Stephan, and this man has something to live for. I don’t want anyone’s pity because there is no reason for it—he will live.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
KENNETH, the brother, who is loyal to everyone.
My sister’s face changes after that hug. I don’t know what they said to each other, but she changed after that. I see our old Leila back. This woman is determined and single-minded when it comes to her goals, and she just set one for herself. I just wish I knew which one that was.
While she marches toward me, I glance at Jake. He’s uncomfortable as fuck here. He hasn’t been anyone’s favorite as of recent, and people don’t like to be around him, and I can understand why since we had a few unfortunate situations while he was working for the department. He’s been deemed the local asshole, and I don’t know how he’ll be able to redeem himself in everyone’s eyes.
Alas, him going on a long leave of absence from the police department. The dude was abusing his power, so he was told to take some time to clear his head. I know he went to some sort of rehab after the shooting, but when he came back, he didn’t change much. So yeah, he was forced to take the leave.
Truth be told though, I wasn’t surprised to find him on the scene holding Archie together. Quite literally. I’ll never forget his determined look as he held the scraps of clothing to Archie’s back and front, trying to put pressure on his wounds. He probably knew the bullets hit his lungs, and he was trying to prevent them from collapsing. Jake’s always had a good heart, but he was steered in the wrong direction at some point. I still don’t know what happened with him—I tried asking as a boss, but he quickly shut me down, and the problems started right after.
Also, there’s another thing I’ll never forget—my little sister on the ground with Archie, that haunted look on her face, her body shaking. I’ve never seen Leila so lost and so scared. She’s usually so calm and collected, but she was anything but. I think at that exact moment, I understood what Archie really meant to her. I figured they were deep when I found him loitering by the diner, peeping in the windows, but it never occurred to me that their connection could be so strong and so mutual, to be honest. Leila’s never processed feelings the same way most people do. She’s so closed off and sometimes shy, even though she’d say otherwise. She always does—it’s a hobby of hers to piss off her big brother. But I know my sister and I didn’t know she could fall so deep.
As for Archie, I’ve always felt—well, for the span of the months I’ve known him—that when he falls, he falls till his last breath. And to be frank, I’m fucking happy it’s Leila. I know he’ll be loyal and responsible, and my sister will always be taken care of. What else could a brother dream of? I was a little scared for the same reason though—knowing Archie and seeing how much he’s struggled with life, I wasn’t sure he could survive my sister.
But I think he gets her like no other man could, and there is no danger of them ever separating…if he survives this.
But I’m fucking happy I was wrong. They’re perfect for each other—he makes her feel, and she makes him not.
