The paramedic is asking Landon questions, and he tells Landon his name. Rob.
Kiera, back in her regular clothes, joins us, pale and shaking, and stands by Adam’s feet.
Her gaze shifts from Adam to Landon and then to the guns next to them. Her eyes widen in fear. “Shouldn’t we get those guns away from them before they hurt anyone else?”
“They’re the good guys,” I say, examining Adam’s body for additional signs of injury. “Where the hell is the ambulance?”
“It’s on its way,” a man in a uniform says, approaching. Mall security. “The cops, too.” He hands me a first aid kit, gun drawn. “Is the other man alive?” He nods in Nikolai’s direction.
Rob looks up at me, and then at where the security guard had gestured.
I shake my head. “No, he’s dead.” My voice cracks into a hundred pieces, but I’m not sure for who, exactly. The man who I haven’t seen in many years, or for the boy who was at one time my world.
“Why were they shooting at Santa?” Kiera asks, voice trembling. “Since when did the good guys try to kill Santa?”
Since Santa tried to kill them first.
I have no idea if Landon and Adam realized Santa was Nikolai in disguise, or they shot at him simply because he fired at them first.
“Hey, Adam,” I say. “Can you hear me?”
“Where’s Landon?” His voice is barely loud enough to be heard over the chatter of freaked out customers. I can hear a man tell everyone to stay back, to give us space.
“He’s right here. He’s okay. You’re both going to be okay.” I glance over at Rob, but he’s too busy dealing with Landon to confirm that I’m right.
God, please tell me I’m right.
“I need you to call Ava and tell her Landon and Adam have been shot,” I tell Kiera. “She’ll know what to do.”
Kiera moves away to make the call.
Adam pushes himself to sit.
I put my hands on his shoulders. “Hey, you need to lie down until the paramedics arrive.”
“I’m fine, Chloe.” He looks over at Landon. “He’s in way worse shape than me.”
“Speak for yourself,” Landon mutters. “I’m ready to run a couple of laps. Maybe enter the Ironman Triathlon.”
“I somehow doubt that,” Rob says.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Landon. “The last I heard, Adam was the one who was keeping an eye on me.”
“Is there any particular reason your cousin showed up here while you happen to be in the store? And don’t tell me he happened to be in the neighborhood, playing the role of a mall Santa.” His tone isn’t pissed, just weary.
I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the last few minutes with Nikolai to be permanently erased from my memory.
I open my eyes, and my gaze catches sight of the star still in Landon’s hand. Fresh tears spill from my eyes again. “I have no idea.”
32
Chloe
Several hours later,I’m sitting in the waiting area outside the surgical suites at the hospital where Landon and Adam were taken.
I’m not alone.
Liam, Connor, Adam, Jayden, and Isabelle are with me, waiting to find out how Landon’s surgery went.
