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“He’s not going anywhere. Put the gun down before you accidentally shoot me.”
“I wouldn’t shoot you.”
“Jesus Christ, do you know how to work a gun?” She stares at me, her nose scrunching.
“No. But I’ve seen movies.” Still kneeling on the man’s back, holding his arms just in case he comes to and tries to fight, I look to the sky, praying that God will give me the patience and energy to manage this woman.
God answers in the form of my best friend's voice.
“Over there!” I hear Hattie shout, then the clicking of heels that she wears once a year for this event.
And over the hill, I see her, police officers on foot with cars following behind, all jogging our way.
I look up at the sky again.
“Thank you, God,” I mumble.
“Damn, girl. You can’t go to a single event without bringing the fun, can you?” Hattie says with that dumb-ass smile when she reaches us, and I glare at her, but I don’t have time. Because as the officers detain Vitale, taking the gun from Lola, who I instantly tug in my arms, my girl passes out, and I have to use my full energy to keep her from crashing down.
But from this day on, I will use every ounce of energy within myself to keep this woman standing.
Forty-Three
-Ben-
Lola comesto in just a few seconds, and I can only assume it was the stress and panic of everything hitting her all at once. Either way, I take her to the hospital, a police car following close behind for security and to question her once we get there.
She’s strong the whole time as the nurse checks out her hand first, which is blissfully just sprained and in need of a few stitches.
And as this all happens, she tells the police the story.
I’m able to speak as a second witness, and there are also cameras in the parking garage and the kid from the valet who called the cops as soon as he ran off when Johnny paid him—that’s how Hattie and the cops got there so fast.
There’s no way Johnny is getting out of this.
She told them about the threats that have been coming to her, conveniently leaving out her father. Told them how Johnny took her as a way to get to her sister. That to Johnny, Lilah was the key to Johnny getting control, and the promise of power drove him mad, clearly.
I’m in awe and absolutely hate how well she saves her father.
Even now, after her life was put in danger, after Lilah’s life was put in danger, she still feels the pull to protect him. To keep her mother’s promise.
And then Vic walks into the exam room.
“Hey, Lola, it’s nice to meet you,” my best guy friend says. I glare at him, because throughout the entire time Lola’s been talking to nurses and police officers, she’s been gritting her teeth through pain, the blood on her eyebrow slowly leaking.
And my best friend, who I texted as we left the hotel, the man who is a literal ER doctor at this hospital, has been taking his sweet time to get here.
“Hi, I—” she starts to respond, but I cut her off.
“Can you stop with the niceties and just fucking help her?”
“Ben!” Lola says, her good hand swatting me in the arm from where I sit next to the hospital bed. “Don’t be a dick!” She turns to Vic and gives some crazy-looking cringe smile at him, her polite politician’s daughter side kicking in. “I’m so sorry. He’s super stressed out. It’s been a crazy day.”
“No problem at all. I’m used to it,” Vic says with a shit-eating grin I really want to smack off him.
Knocking Vitale out felt good, but I have enough frustration and anger running in my veins for another person.
“Either way, that’s not right. This is your place of work, and patients and their guests shouldn’t make that miserable.” I roll my eyes at her, shaking my head.
