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“We got it,” Alexander says, and they both disappear after Gideon and the woman.
I drop to the ground beside Carina, who is taking Alma in her arms as Gregorio scrambles upright. He watches in a stupor, his eyes glazed over.
“You’re going to be all right. I promise, you’ll be all right.” Carina inspects the entry wound, her trembling fingers moving around the blade.
Alma gasps, her inhale shallow and strained. When she releases her breath, blood streams from the side of her mouth.
“Carina,” she gurgles. “Car—” Another gasp.
“Shh,” Carina says. “Don’t try to speak. We’re going to call for help.” She looks at me expectantly then with red-rimmed eyes. Tears spill from them as she implores, “Please.”
It takes me a moment to realize what she’s asking. She wants me to call an ambulance. To call paramedics to this place full of criminals currently involved in battle. It’s not done. When someone is shot, we either drag them away or let them die. We don’t call for help.
I tug my phone from my pocket and dial nine-one-one.
“Cari—” Alma lifts her hand towards Carina and cups her cheek. “I’m so—” Another shallow breath. “Forgive me,” she whispers and glances at me.
Carina wraps her palm around Alma’s hand and holds it to her. “Forgive what? There’s nothing to forgive.”
“Nine-one-one, where is the emergency?” the operator answers.
“There’s been a stabbing.” Just as I say that, shots sound in the distance. “At the Flag’s Point Marina. A young woman, twenty-three years old.”
“I’m sorry, sir. Is that gunfire? Are you in an active shooting?”
“Yes.”
A mumbled word is followed by frantic typing. “It appears the police have already been dispatched to your location. But you’ll have to hang tight until the area is secured before the paramedics can step in.”
“I understand.”
“Where was the young woman stabbed?” I’m asked.
“In the chest.”
“Is the weapon still embedded?”
“It…” I pause mid-reply when I hear my name, barely audible but there.
“Luca.”
I turn to Carina, and her expression tells me what’s happened before her lips do.
“She’s gone.”
“No!” Gregorio roars, finally snapping out of his trance. He lunges for Alma and tears her from Carina. “My baby. Not my baby!”
“The fucker got away,” Noah says, returning to us with a bedraggled Gunn in tow. “All of the other boats were disabled. The asshole was prepared.”
“Gideon’s men are retreating. But we’re still outnumbered,” Gunn says.
I gently take Carina’s hand. “We have to go.”
“No!” she cries out. “I can’t leave her here.”
“We have no choice. If we stay, we will all be arrested.”
“I’ll stay with her,” Gunn offers. “Just don’t leave me in the gutter too long, boss.”
