While Graycie moves toward Opal, Lara rushes to my side. She doesn’t flinch when she grabs my hands, not caring aboutthe blood drying there. “Are you okay?” The question rushes out of her.
I’m not surprised she heard about what happened. Bunz Out is close to the grocery store and I’m sure gossip is spreading fast. I don’t really have the energy to care.
“He shielded me,” I rasp out the words. “He took the bullet and he was standing right in front of me.”
Lara lets out a sound and pulls me into her, hugging me against her fiercely. The tears still come. I don’t think they’ll ever stop.
I hear a scoff and look up to see Playboy’s eyes fixed on Lara with his lip curled up in a sneer. When he meets my eyes, he looks away and rubs the back of his neck. The sheepish expression on his face will have to do for now.
At least he didn’t open his mouth.
I can’t stop replaying the moment Bobby squeezed the trigger. Then the moment of impact. I felt it through Titus’ body. I felt it.
“He’s going to be okay,” Lara’s words are low and soothing.
Willing myself to believe them isn’t working, no matter how desperate I am for that feeling.
“There was so much blood,” I barely utter the words, but Lara stiffens telling me she heard them loud and clear.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” she tries to assure me.
“He was standing right in front of me.” I don’t know why I say the words again.
“Of course he was,” she murmurs, “he loves you.”
A damn breaks inside of me and my chest heaves as sobs tear out of me. Lara doesn’t let go; she squeezes me tighter. I cling to her, not remembering the blood for a moment.
When I remember, I try to let go, but she hisses, “Don’t you dare.”
I grip her tighter instead and give into the feeling inside of me. It’s dark. It’s filled with grief. It wants to consume me. I want to let it.
The sobs continue to come, and it feels like I’m lost in a storm of them. Lara doesn’t let go. Her hand rubs my back as she whispers words I don’t hear. Maybe I’m not supposed to.
Just as I start to calm down, the doors open again and I hear footsteps I’ve heard my entire life. How funny that I recognize them even now.
I look up to find my dad striding into the waiting room. Still in his uniform. Still with an air of authority which I now realize I have resented for a long time. His eyes are locked on me, and I can see the fear and panic there.
But I don’t care about that. Not right now.
There’s something else in his eyes though, something that makes rage simmer under the surface of my skin. Arrogance. Like he’s just waiting to say, ‘I told you so’.
A scream wells up inside of me, but I don’t think I have the energy to let it out. Not right now.
Before Dad can reach me, Jackal steps into his path. Patsy is now holding Vera, her eyes sharpening as she takes in the scene, clearly ready to protect her vulnerable friend who is worried about her son.
I want to go to her.
“Sheriff,” the sneer in Jackal’s voice is clear to hear, “are you here in an official capacity?”
Dad looks surprised for a moment before he masks it and clenches his jaw. “I’m here to see my daughter and to make sure she’s okay,” he grits out the words.
“The same daughter that you said was too emotional to talk to while you paced in front of our gates like a wild fucking animal?” Jackal asks the question calmly, but I can see every word land. “The one you dismissed when she said she was in trouble?”
That question lands harder.
Devastation washes over dad’s face.
Lara gently releases me but stays right by my side and wraps one of her arms around my shoulders. I appreciate her comfort, really. But I want Titus to wrap his arms around me.