“Fuck!” Callum roars. “Niko, justcome backto me?—”
I lose consciousness, unable to hold on any longer.
I only hearout of one ear as I slowly regain my surroundings.
Everything hurts.
My neck, the most, but my ears, too, one ringing incessantly and giving me the worst headache I’ve ever had in my life.
When I open my eyes it seems like a miracle to have access to any vision at all.
I can see.
I can still fucking see.
I am alive.
Sirens are blaring all around the car, and red and blue flashing lightsfill the air.
I can only hear the sirens from one ear, but they’rethere. I look over at the door panel of the passenger side door. The lock and unlock button. The handle. Such simple things, and it feels like I’m looking at paradise, now, because I’malive.
I couldn’t make an emergency call.
But someone else must have done it.
“Oliver.Oliver,” Niko utters, and suddenly I feel his warm kiss on the side of my head. “Oh my God.”
“Can’t turn my head,” I say, my voice coming out raspy.
All I can see is the smooth black leather and plastic along the passenger door, and the shiny silver of the door handle.
“You don’t have to move an inch. You’re okay. You’re going to be okay. Holy fucking God.”
I feel his arms wrap around me, and there’s only one thing I feel.
Love.
I feel love coming from every inch of him as he holds me like this, my body slumped in the front seat of the car.
He loves me.
Even if it’s temporary.
Even if it’s never going to mean anything, or matter.
And I think I’ve loved him longer than I was ever aware of.
“Where is he?” I manage to say.
Niko’s hand strokes along my hair. “Callum is outside, in handcuffs. They’ve got him, Ollie.”
“The gunshots?”
“He grazed my arm before I got the gun from him and got him in the elbow. It was finally enough to stop him from strangling you.”
“You’re shot?” I say, feeling tears well up in my eyes. “No, Niko?—”
“I will befine. The ambulance is here, Ollie. I see it at the end of the street.”