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A shot fired in our direction, making my eyes fly across the room.
For a second, I thought it was Paige.
Behind her, Cade was on top of Charlie, trying to get the gun from his hands. Eric used my distraction to his advantage, slamming me onto the floor and getting on top of me.
Another shot was fired in our direction, this time it nicked my right arm.
“Fuck you!” Eric shouted, glaring right at me. “I’ll kill you for this!
“Stop!” Paige begged. “Please, stop!”
The next few seconds played out like a horror movie, becoming my new reality where none of us would ever be the same again.
He drew out his gun and aimed it at my head. Right when he was about to pull the trigger, Paige rammed her shoulder into the side of his body.
“No!” I roared in disbelief as he fell to the ground.
Time once again stood still, or maybe it moved faster, I couldn’t tell anymore. I was there, but I wasn’t.
My eyes watered.
My lips trembled.
My body fucking shook.
I was choking, hyperventilating, drowning deeper in my despair. There was no saving me from myself.
Before his back hit the concrete floor, two shots were fired. One was behind me.
The other was heading towards my Cherry girl.
I’d remember this split second for the rest of my life. I swear it felt like a slow-motion bullet as the sound of gunfire shook off the walls. Eric’s body jolted back from the recoil of the gun he just shot fired off.
I sprang into action, grabbing Paige. I clung to her , tackling her to the ground with my body breaking her fall.
Bang!
Another shot was fired.
At first, I didn’t know what the fuck happened. All that could be heard was the distinct sound of gunpowder exploding in the shell. Another bullet whizzed through the air and popped when it hit its target.
It wasn’t until Eric’s head exploded a few feet away from my face, that I realized Cade just shot him and I could finally rest.
“Help him!” was all I heard next.
Cade was by my side. “Shit! He’s bleeding! I can’t stop the blood!”
Then…
I saw my angel from above.
She held onto my body.
Repeating over and over again, “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
It was then, I told her for the first time, “I love you too.”
Before I shut my eyes…
And said goodbye.
Thirty-Four
Paige
Inever imagined the words. “It was a clean shot through his right shoulder,” to be the best ones I’d ever heard.
After I called 911 and told them everything that happened, the warehouse was swarming with cops. Thank God Hayley and Cade could deal with them while I rode in the ambulance with Adrian to the hospital. I hadn’t even had the opportunity to process what the hell just occurred.
All I wanted was for Adrian to be okay.
The hospital stitched him right up. We spent the new few hours debriefing with the police and by the time we walked back into the hotel suite, it was night.
Hayley and Cade were staying in another suite, wanting some privacy, and I didn’t blame them. The good news was that it was over and now we could all hopefully heal from here.
One thing was for sure, Adrian Drake took a bullet for me.
Like where do we go from here?
He was lying on his side of the bed, propped up on a few pillows with his eyes closed. I helped him wash up, except the entire time my mind wouldn’t stop reeling with the possibility of the bullet being a couple of inches to his left. Right over his heart.
I don’t know how long I stood there, fresh out of the shower. I was leaning against the headboard, envisioning a life without him.
“Cherry, I’m fine.”
“How do you know I’m standing here?”
“I can feel you.”
Swoon.
“I can’t believe you took a bullet for me, Adrian.”
His gaze land on me. “Come here.”
“No.”
“Paige, please.”
I deeply sighed. Hearing him beg was always my biggest weakness. “I thought…”
He lifted his good arm, triggering tears to stir in my eyes.
“Come home.”
I struggled to keep my tears at bay.
When he grabbed my waist, pulling me toward him I went willingly, crawling onto his lap. I straddled his thighs, careful not to hurt him.
“I’m sorry, Adrian.”
“What do you have to be sorry for?”
“Everything. Look at you, you’re hurt because of me.”
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
“My Cherry girl is sitting on my cock. It can’t get any better than that.” He teased.
“Adrian…”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I leaned forward, placing my forehead onto his and cried.
For the past.
For the man I lost.
For the love I longed for.
“Shhh…” he lulled, kissing my tears away. “I’d do anything for you. I love you, Paige.”
“Please,” I begged.
All I wanted was to feel him.
Truly be with him.
Gently, I pressed my lips onto his for the first time since he came back into my life.
