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I push through the revolving door with one arm draped around Cat and the other still firmly holding the axe. At first, it was me holding her, trying to comfort her in some way as we navigated through the gunfire and screams, but now it’s her holding me.
Pain pulsates from my side, all the way to my arm, making things feel tingly and numb all at once, but I don’t stop until we are in front of the car. I push her away toward the passenger side as I round the driver’s side. Luckily, she takes instruction well and slips in as I do the same.
I hurry and start the car, then peel out of the parking lot, not even bothering to look in the rearview mirror. When we finally make it to the open road and away from the casino, I steal a glance at Cat. Blood stains my white shirt she has on, and I can’t tell if it’s from her or me.
“Are you hurt?” I ask, keeping my eyes focused on the road.
I see her shake her head out the corner of my eye. “I think it’s from you.”
I look down to my side and see a steady flow of blood pumping out of the wound on my ribs. I didn’t think it was bad, but this makes it seem much worse. I turn my eyes back to the road and drive in silence as everything starts to become blurry and distorted. The white lines on the road curve, the trees along the side hunch over, and my head tries to loll to the side, but I don’t let it.
I shake my head and scrub my hand down my face, hoping like hell it will snap me out of it, but it doesn’t.
“Are you okay?” Cat asks from beside me.
I slow my labored breaths. “I should be asking if you’re okay.”
When she doesn’t answer, I glance her way again. Her hands are trembling as her knee bobs up and down, and her eyes bounce all over the place. “Hey.” I reach out and touch her knee, and she practically jumps out of her skin.
I ease the car to the shoulder, then put it in park before trying again. This time, I make my movements slower. When my hand is only a few inches from her, she jumps and presses herself against the door. With her eyes on me, she feels the door, looking for the handle.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I try.
Her head shakes when her fingers finally find the handle and pull. “That’s what they all said. This could be a ploy. Maybe part of a fucked-up fetish you like.” She hops from the car and starts running down the deserted road.
I let out a breath, then step out of the car. I hate fucking chasing people unless it ends in a blow job or some rough sex, but this time I’m making an exception. I start sprinting behind her, gripping my side as I do.
Her legs are short compared to mine, so her strides are smaller which means it takes me no time to catch up. When I’m a few steps behind her, I slow my pace, then use my other hand to reach out. I catch her by the shoulder and turn her around.
“I’m not going to hurt you. Do you really think I would have done everything I did back there just to get my rocks off and come?”
Her chest heaves quickly, and her mouth hangs open to suck in more air as she brings her fists in front of her. Her eyes shoot to the nothingness around us. “You’re hurt. I can take you,” she spits back.
Her reply makes me laugh. I know I shouldn’t considering this is a serious situation and she’s clearly scared, but I can’t help it.
I tip my head and cross my arms, letting the blood oozing from my ribs run down the side of my leg and speckle on the ground. “Go ahead, then. Hit me.”
She looks at me confused, then strikes slowly toward my face. I catch her balled fist in my hand, then drop it roughly. “Even if I’m hurt, you still couldn’t take me. I admire your feistiness, but it’s not needed here. I’m not going to fucking hurt you.” Her other hand falls in defeat.
I want to wrap her in my arms and let her know she’s safe now, but I don’t think it would go over too smoothly. Instead, I pull the gun I have tucked in the back of my waistband out and hand it to her. “Here. If you’re so worried, take it. Shoot me if I make a move.”
She grabs the gun and points it at me in a silent threat, but it doesn’t even make me flinch. “Fine. I’ll go with you.”
I give her a firm nod, then turn around and start walking back to the car. She lingers behind me, but I don’t stop. If she wants to fall back and watch me, so be it.
When I slide back into the car, I watch through the windshield as she takes her last few steps. When she slips back inside, she shoves the gun under the seat. Her breathing is calmer, and her hands aren’t as shaky. “I’m sticking with you for my own protection, nothing else.”
“Fine by me.” I pull back onto the road and floor it.
Trying to prove myself to her because of her stunt did nothing but make me feel worse. I’m doing my best to hide it, but it’s getting hard.
As we pull into the driveway of the cabin, black spots start to float into my vision. “Let’s go. You’ll be safe here.”
She gives me a skeptical look but doesn’t object as I get out of the car. I sway on my feet as I walk up before she comes and tucks herself under my arm again. “Whose place is this?”
I guess I should expect her to question everything, but I have almost no energy to even answer. “Don’t worry. My brother and his girl are here. Just answer any questions they have because I don’t think I’ll last much longer.”
I push open the door as the black spots get bigger and bigger.
