Page 173 of His Ruin
He falls back into a chair, his legs spreading out in front of him as he slaps a hand over the tear in his shirt where the bullet entered. He’s trying to shield the worst of it from me, but it’s too late. I don’t need to see the damage to know it could potentially become fatal.
Which shunts me into action. My nerves are shot, but I can’t think past the urge to help him. In any way I can.
“Hospital,” I breathe as I flip the handle of the sink, allowing the water to flow onto the dish towel I’m holding tightly to. Once it’s soaked, I wring it out before padding over to my husband and dropping to my knees in front of him. I swallow past the thickness in my throat as I lift the towel to his bloodied knuckles. “We need to call an ambulance—”
“That isn’t mine,” he groans.
I balk at his dripping fists as the essence stains the floor beneath him.
“I beat…the guy after…he shot me.”
“Oh,” I draw back, curling my lip as I press the cloth into his abdomen. “You need a doctor, Kaden.”
“I know,” he sighs. “Can you grab my phone out of my pocket?”
I shove my hand into his jeans, pulling out his device as I frown at the shattered screen.
“Go to my contacts and call Doc.” He says softly as he rests his head back against the chair.
I nod, my fingers flying over the shattered bits until I find the contact and hold it up to my ear. It rings twice before an aged, gravely voice picks up.
“Kaden, this had better be fucking life or death—”
“Hi,” I respond meekly, mentally slapping myself. Now isn’t the time for social anxiety. “Not Kaden. I’m his wife, Melody.”
“Holy shit,” the man mutters. “He really did marry his sister…”
“Kaden was shot,” I rush, waving a hand as if the man can see me in my desperate state. “Is there something you can do?”
“Mother fucker,” he curses before the sound of something slams heavily on the other end. “I’ll be there in ten.”
The line goes dead, and I’m left standing here, praying that ten minutes won’t be the difference between my husband living…or dying.
Chapter seventy
Melody
There’sbloodeverywhere.Itstains my hands, soaking into my skin like a brand. As the service starts, the nameless faces around me shush into a haunting quiet. I can’t even look up as someone moves behind the funeral home’s podium.
He’s gone.
He’s gone, and I watched him die.
His essence still mars my skin, embedding itself into the grooves of my palms like a tattoo I can’t get rid of. Nothing else matters anymore…
“Melody,” a familiar voice calls from the head of the room.
Slowly, I tilt my chin up to see my phantom, the same man I watched die, standing over his own casket. His hand rests over the polished red wood, stroking the coffin as if he isn’t lying still inside of it.
Kaden’s eyes snap to me, the whole room fading as his voice becomes an echo. “It’s just a dream. Wake up…Wake up, Melody.”
I’m shunted awake, the gasp clawing up my throat as it croaks into a broken sob. I’m crying, the warmth trickling down my cheeks as Kaden covers me from above. He’s holding my cheeks, shaking me slightly as he pants and concern twists his features.
I grab his wrists, holding onto him for dear life as I cry out in a pained howl.
“I know, I know,” he mutters as he presses his forehead to mine. “I’m okay. I’m fine, Sunny.”
My arms snake around his neck, but I’m careful not to move too quickly so I don’t break his stitches.
