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“Joey, don’t move her,” I insisted, knowing that neither of them was in any position to be moved right now. Shannon looked like she was dying, and Joey didn’t look like he was far behind her. “She could have internal—”
“Give me the fucking keys, baby,” he cut me off and roared, voice breaking, as he stumbled unsteadily to his feet with his sister in his arms. His face was beaten so badly he was barely recognizable in this moment. “Help me.”
He was moving for the front door before I had a chance to answer him. Before I could beg him to sit down before he passed out.
Panic swirled inside of my stomach, spiraling my heart into a frenzied flush of fear and dread. As I hurried after him, I knew that it was a bad idea, but went with him anyway because he needed me. Because for the first time in his life, he had asked for help.
Two words.
Help me.
I’d never heard them come from his mouth before and knew there was a chance I’d never hear them again, but I had to help him.
I couldn’t not.
Rushing around to the driver’s side door, I swung it open and pulled the seat forward for him to climb into the back seat.
He didn’t.
“I’ll drive.”
“Joe, no.” I shook my head. “That’s not a good idea. I’ll—”
“I’ll drive,” he choked out. “I’m faster, and I can’t—” His voice broke, and he sucked in a quivering breath. “Please just hold her for me. I need to not, ah, I need to just…” Staggering, he leaned against the side of my car and clung to Shannon’s small body. “Molloy, I’m really scared.”
My heart cracked clean open in my chest.
“It’s okay, Joe, baby. You drive.” Scrambling into the back seat of my car, I held my arms out and gestured for him to pass her to me. “I’ve got Shan. I’ll keep her safe. I promise.”
PART 6
72
Breathe, Baby, Breathe
JOEY
“Joe?”
I could feel her hands on my face.
“Joey, baby?”
Her smell was all around me.
“Breathe, baby.”
Her hands were on my face.
“Just breathe.”
I couldn’t feel my body. I couldn’t feel anything except her hands.
I knew I was trying to sit up. I was aware of my legs kicking the blankets away from my waist, but my head wasn’t engaged. My brain wasn’t working.
Everything was fucking broken.
“Molloy.” My voice was slurred. My lips brushed her neck as I spoke. “Where is she?”
