Page 159 of Shadowing You

“You fix it,” Lu said.

“I’m not a magician, Lu!” But the so-called doctor was glowering at him like pure force of will could save this man’s life.

Fine then.

Ethan focused on the patient.

If he left the bullet where it was, the man would slowly bleed to death. But if he took it out…the man would probably still bleed to death, just less slowly.

I’m gonna need Your help, God.

He had a feeling he needed to save this man or incur some punishment he didn’t deserve.

Don’t think about that.

He took a breath and blew it out. “Kyle, you have to hold him down.”

“Got it.” Kyle nodded and shifted to the man’s shoulders.

Ethan looked at the other Chinese guy. “What’s your name?”

The man didn’t answer.

Lu said, “Bo. It’s Bo.”

“Tell him to kneel over the patient’s thighs to keep him from squirming.”

Lu translated, and Bo did what he was told, looking even more worried than Lu did.

Pager’s eyes were wide with pain and fear, focused on Bo. Those two were close.

“This is going to hurt, Pager. You need to stay still.”

Lu translated.

With any luck, Pager would pass out.

After pouring water over his hands, Ethan worked his fingers into the hole—two fingers this time.

Pager fought and squirmed.

“Hold him steady!”

Kyle and Bo seemed to be trying.

Blood gushed out the wound, far more than Ethan had expected. The iliac artery ran close to this spot. If it was punctured…

Then it wouldn’t matter what Ethan did or didn’t do. Pager would die.

Ethan had to try, though. He manipulated his fingers around the slug. He had it, then lost it. He took a breath, needing to focus.

“Hurry up!”

Ethan ignored Lu, closing his eyes. The slug was right there. Slippery bugger.

Finally, Ethan got it wedged between his fingers and drew it out—a flattened piece of metal.

He dropped it in the leaves.