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Kieran didn’t answer him. He moved swiftly behind the counter. “Tell the cops we need an ambulance,” Kieran shouted. “Guy’s lost a lot of blood, but he’s still alive.”
“Stay down,” Brooklyn shouted when the gunman pushed upward. “Don’t try me. I will shoot you.” The man was blinded by the spray and wouldn’t know that Kieran had already taken the gun from Brooklyn.
“Cops will be here in less than a minute,” the cashier shouted, holding on to the phone. “They said an ambulance will be here shortly.”
That was the information Brooklyn needed to hear. The cops would take care of the wounded guy. He was safe. The woman and her kid would be safe.
The sirens were getting closer.
Was it getting hotter in the store? Brooklyn’s shakiness hadn’t subsided. In fact, it felt worse, and now his legs were wobbly as he became lightheaded.
“Take this,” the mother said as she handed Brooklyn a candy bar. “The adrenaline is wearing off, and your sugar is dropping. I can see how badly you’re sweating.”
Brooklyn took the candy bar but couldn’t seem to open it.
“I’m a doctor. I know what you’re going through.” She took the candy and opened it for him.
Chewing felt like a chore. “Thank you.”
She touched his arm. “No, thank you. That was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.” She moved away with her daughter.
Kieran joined them, pulling Brooklyn into his arms. “I panicked when I heard that gunshot.”
So had Brooklyn. “You thought I was robbing the store,” he whispered. “And you were ready to get me out of here.”
Brooklyn leaned into Kieran’s muscular chest, closing his eyes. He breathed in the scent of him, wishing he could stay in his arms forever. “You thought I was a criminal.”
“I—” Kieran cleared his throat. “I was scared for you.”
“That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me,” Brooklyn whispered.
Kieran looked down at him, his eyes softening. He rested his forehead against Brooklyn’s. “I’d do anything for you.”
Brooklyn slapped a hand over his mouth and raced toward the bathrooms, praying he made it in time before he tossed his cookies.
When he emerged, not only was Kieran waiting for him, but so were a shit-ton of cops. The place was a madhouse as the injured guy was put onto a stretcher and the gunman was cuffed and hauled away. Brooklyn saw the woman and her child and could hear her telling a uniformed officer how heroic he’d been.
More like incredibly insane.
“Take what you need,” the cashier said. “I’m the owner, and you deserve some free things. That was my son who was shot, and because of you, he’s going to live.”
But all Brooklyn wanted was to get out of there. He grabbed a box of cereal closest to him and tucked it under his arm. Kieran ran to get some milk and a few other things, but he insisted on paying for them as Brooklyn held onto that cereal like a lifeline.
After he and Kieran gave their statements, they left, while Brooklyn told himself to never step foot in a convenience store again.
Chapter Nine
Brooklyn was munching on a bowl of cereal at home when his phone rang. His heart skipped a beat at the thought of Kieran calling him. God, Brooklyn had it bad for the guy but didn’t really care. As scary as Kieran’s world was, Brooklyn was willing to live in it just to be with him.
With a smile, he looked at the caller ID. “Fuck me sideways,” he groaned.
It was Blaine.
What was with his ex? When Brooklyn was with him, Blaine hadn’t paid this much attention to him. Now the guy wouldn’t leave him alone. What did that say about his relationship of many years with Blaine that Brooklyn was already over him?
He sent the call to voicemail, only for it to ring again.
“What?” Brooklyn snapped when he answered.
