Page 84 of Hard Corps (Selected Sinners MC 7)

He lived through that hell hole trying to make this world a better place, don’t take him now.

I’m begging you.

“Open those eyes for me, Todelli,” I said as I slapped his face again lightly. “Talk to me.”

He opened his eyes and grinned. “We’re…you and me…we’re…”

I could hear the blood in his lungs. We needed a medevac, and we needed it immediately.

“Hold on Sergeant Todelli. Medevac’s en route,” I lied.

He opened his eyes.

“Hear that chopper, Brother?” I asked. “Corpsman’s on his way.”

He opened his eyes fixed them on mine. There was no doubt in my mind he wasn’t going to live much longer.

“You and me,” he said. “We’re even.”

Obviously, he felt I saved his life the day I laid in the street and shot the three snipers. But I wasn’t ready to lose one of the Marines I almost died saving.

Not in that parking lot.

And not by the hand of the piece of human shit I chose to let live.

As the ambulance came screeching around the corner, I carried my Marine to the street.

“Gunshot wound to the chest, his lung is collapsed,” I said.

I glanced at my watch. “Fourteen minutes.”

They strapped him to a gurney and began to attempt to prevent his lung from collapsing completely. As they began to load him in the back of the ambulance, I pulled myself inside.

“Sorry, you can’t…”

“There isn’t one of you that’s going to stop me,” I said. “Now get my Marine to the hospital.”

As the ambulance sped away, I lowered my head and prayed.

Only you know what lies before him, Lord. If his life has meaning, and his soul has purpose, and I do believe it does, I ask that you spare his life.

And, if you must, take another of this earth, but not this man.

Not now.

Amen.