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My heart jumped to my throat. Something was wrong with him.
When he reached the doors, he knocked on the glass. He mumbled something I couldn’t quite hear. Should I call the cops? My dad? Cousins? The man wouldn’t know that I was home alone. My parents’ vehicle sat in the driveway while my dad had taken my mom on a little getaway with just his bike and the clothes on their back. It was their anniversary, so my father was spoiling my mother and gave me the house to myself for the weekend.
The man knocked again, muttered something else but I still couldn’t understand what he was trying to tell me.
Taking a chance, I closed the distance between us and flicked on the light leading to the backyard.
He was pressing one hand against his opposite shoulder, his face pale.
I glanced up, finding him staring down at me. I swallowed hard. “Who are you?”
“I need…” A deep crimson liquid seeped between his fingers. “I need help. I’ve been stabbed.”
My eyes widened. I went to unlock the door when a thought came to mind. “Are you armed?”
He hesitated, finally nodding after a couple of seconds had passed.
“Show me.”
A mumbled curse left him, but he reached behind him and pulled out a small pistol.
“Throw it. Behind you,” I instructed.
He looked over his shoulder, then back at me.
I raised an eyebrow. “You want my help? Do as I say.”
He grunted but tossed the pistol behind him. It landed several feet away on the ground. I made a mental note to go grab it later. “Anything else?”
He shook his head and lifted his pant legs around both ankles.
Satisfied that he was no longer packing, I met his gaze.
“Please,” came his muffled response.
I took a breath, unlocking the patio door. As soon as I opened it, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell against me.
I grunted, struggling to hold him up. I had to do something but what, I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t medically trained. I knew my way around every single type of gun known to man, thanks to the men in my family, but that wouldn’t save this guy’s life.
“Alright, big guy.” I dragged him to a chair in the dining room, gently sitting him on it as best I could without doing any more damage. “What happened to you?”
He blew out a slow breath, his eyes opening that time. They landed on me, something flashing behind them.
I wasn’t sure what it was but the look he was giving me, made my heart flutter. I had never reacted this way toward a man before. Only because I didn’t get out much, I was sure. And the guys I knew were either too old for me or they were taken already. They were also family even though we weren’t blood related.
“You’re beautiful,” the dark mysterious stranger suddenly said.
I barked a laugh. “I think you’ve lost a lot of blood.”
He adjusted himself on the chair, his face turning ashen. “Still the truth.”
“Hey.” I cupped his good shoulder, trying to stop him from moving too much. “Tell me your name,” I said, attempting to distract him until I could figure out what to do.
“Tanner,” he said between clenched teeth.
“Tanner what?” I moved his hand out of the way and saw blood soaking through a bandage.
“Horsch,” he answered, his eyes dropping to the wound. “You need to stitch me up.”
