Page 94 of When You Stayed
I was two rows above them, but I sat my sketchbook to the side and then shifted down a row, shoving between two girls. They glared at me, but as Royce continued singing her song, her voice went shrill, making the cluster of boys laugh even harder.
From where I was now, directly behind them, I shoved my footforward, kicking them in the back. It forced them to fall forward into the other kids. One of them stood up and tried to swing at me, but I ducked and threw my fist into his nose. Another one flew at me, trying to get my stomach. I lifted my knee and hit his nose, making blood spray smear his face.
The last kid began screaming at me, “If you want her so bad, just say so. You don’t have to pretend to like her voice or attack us for calling it like it is. She sucks!” I stood up and threw my forehead into his face, and several kids gasped and that’s when I realized Royce had stopped singing and the school police officer was heading toward us.
Everyone was watching me, including Royce, whose gaze held a look of hurt and confusion. The principal and the dean of students were angrily making their way up the bleachers. Royce held her elbow while everyone ignored her and watched me. Connor ran up to the stage and put his arm around her, helping her off. I stood there, staring at their retreating forms, wondering if all I’d ever be was the guy who messed up. I’d be the villain in Royce’s life while Connor and every other guy in her life remained the hero.
Just one time I’d like to be the one who saved her. Just once, I’d like to be the hero in her story.
TWENTY-SIX
FORD
PRESENT
My lungs burnedas I ran, and by the time I came skidding to a stop I thought they might burst. Red blood stained Royce’s clothing, my vision blurred, and I dropped to my knees, not even focused on where her abductor might have gone. My shaking hands gently plucked out a twig that had gotten into her flaxen hair. She was turned away from me, so I gently scooped her into my arms, realizing the blood was due to a bullet that had grazed her bicep. She bled from her temple as well, but it looked like it was from hitting a rock on her way down.
Her arm was bleeding badly as it’d ripped her skin open to a wide gash.
“I got you, baby. It’s okay.” I rocked her while my entire body shook.
She was still unconscious, but it didn’t stop me from talking to her.
“We’ll get this cleaned up, and we’ll take you to the hospital, and it’ll be okay.” Realizing I needed to get into action, I took a deep, shuddery breath and set her back on the ground. I slipped my jacket off and propped it under her head, and then ripped the bottom part of my T-shirt until it was a thick strip. I wrapped her arm up as tightly as I could, tying it off, and then covered her with the cut I’d grabbedfrom the ground.
My cell. I needed to call an ambulance, but instead I dialed Killian. He’d get here faster, and he’d ensure we had the protection to get back to the hospital.
The phone rang a few times before I felt something cold and metal press against my neck.
“Hang up.” I recognized the voice but couldn’t quite piece together who it was.
Anger stirred in my veins as I remained kneeling next to Royce. The leather over her body had a knife tucked inside the pocket, so I carefully began pulling it out as I set the phone to the side.
“Hang it up!” he urged, pressing the gun into my skin.
I shook my head. “No can do.”
“You weren’t supposed to be here. You fucking idiot, now look…” he sputtered angrily, and I realized it was Rodney who was holding me at gunpoint. Fucking Rodney, of all people. “Look at what you did. You made me shoot her. I didn’t want to shoot her. I wanted to take her, and you ruined that.”
The folded knife was in my palm, but I’d need to slide the blade free.
“So you wanted to take my girl, from the northern part of the orchard, and have me chase you so you could lay a trap?” I knew Killian was listening, and now I’d told him where to go.
Rodney shifted his feet behind me, but the gun remained against my spine.
“They knew you stepped in as president, I don’t know how. They asked about Royce during one of our meet ups, we always shoot the shit, ya know. I talked about how she wanted my job. They told me to dangle it in front of her with the ultimatum. My guess is they were using her to push you guys into a corner, but I’m telling you this because I don’t want any more blood on my hands. I’m showing goodwill, okay?”
“Who is we, Rodney?” The blade slid out as I gripped the handle. I needed to keep him talking, though.
“How about a little trade? You tell me where you buried money for the Hernandez family, and I’ll tell you who hired the Devils to come after you.”
“Was it Max?” I asked, mostly to gauge his reaction, but I was also curious if he’d tell me.
“Who the fuck is Max?”
Well shit. I had assumed this would all lead back to the fucker, but I guess not. Someone had hired them, and whoever it was knew that I had stepped in as president.
There was an echo of a motorcycle that reverberated from behind us, which I had to assume would catch Rodney off guard enough that he’d get distracted. I rotated my shoulder, while spinning around and plunged the knife as deeply as I could into whatever I could get to. Rodney shot his gun, but the bullet hit a nearby tree. He fell backward as my knife hit its mark in his stomach. Panic had his eyes widening and his breaths coming in short. I kicked the gun away as I stood over him. The pummel of the blade stuck out from his gut. If I pulled it out, he might bleed out.
