Page 18 of Smoke and Mirrors

What the hell?

He looks into my eyes. and it’s like time stands still. Even though he’s bleeding all over the place, something’s happening right now—a connection, an understanding—something’s shifting, and I like it. Goosebumps litter my skin up and down my arms.

“What’s going on?”

Both our heads turn to see Mrs. Henderson sticking her body partway out of apartment four and looking right at us. I go to tell Mrs. Henderson, but Kace looks straight in my eyes, and I see the desperation in them.

I hold up the knife. “I slipped while we were making toast.”

Kace furrows his brows as I wince slightly. Obviously, you don’t make toast with a butcher knife, but Mrs. Henderson huffs and closes her door.

“Thank you, help me inside?” Kace asks.

With a nod, I reach for his door handle.

“No!”

I jump, springing back again.

“We need to go to your apartment,” he says, a lot calmer.

Scratching and whining on the other side of his door causes me to frown. “What’s that?” I ask nervously.

He moves against the wall, heading for my open door as the whining becomes louder.

“It’s my dog, don’t worry, she won’t hurt you. There’s a first-aid kit under my sink, grab it, and I’ll wait for you.” He slips inside my apartment, leaving me standing in the hallway holding a large knife and looking completely bewildered.

I take a deep breath and reach for his door handle, turning it slowly. The second it’s open, a Pitbull Terrier rushes at me, but she doesn’t stop, squeezing past my legs. I watch as she shoots into my apartment in search of Kace.

I’m a little dazed, but when I hear him groan, it brings me back to my mission. I rush inside, barely taking any notice of his apartment as I drop to my knees in the kitchen and pull a hefty first-aid kit from the cupboard, just where he said it would be.

It’s heavy, but I manage to struggle my way out, shutting the door behind me.

I kick my door shut with my foot before dumping the kit with a loud thump on my small dining table.

A wet nose nuzzles at my leg, and I look down with a smile. “I didn’t know you had a dog.” I kneel down and pat her cute little face as she licks up the side of my cheek.

“Yeah, she’s well- trained. Her name is Daisy.”

I smile. “Lily and Daisy. Two flowers. We’re going to be great friends, Daisy, you cute little thing, you,” I coo over the dog as she rolls on her back and lets me rub her pink belly.

“So, umm… if you don’t mind, I kinda need this taken care of?”

I turn to see him sitting at a table, the first-aid kit is open, and in his hands, he holds a bottle of alcohol and a pair of needle-nose pliers.

Opening my eyes wide, I swallow hard and walk over to him staring at the obvious bullet hole in his bicep. Shaking my head, my eyes open even wider as my heart pounds, and I start backing away. “Oh no… no way. I’m a vet nurse, I don’t do the surgery, I assist. I work on animals, not humans, and I certainly have never removed a bullet before. No. Just no. You need to go to the hospital. See a doctor. Wait… aren’t you a doctor? You were in scrubs and—”

“Lily, I’m not a doctor. You’re the closest thing I have to one right now—”

“No, I can’t do this. There’s just no way.”

He stands up, striding toward me and places his hand on my face gently caressing my cheek, sending warmth inside me, easing my nerves instantly. “Lily, I need you to do this… please.” I can tell he’s in pain, but he’s doing a damn good job of trying to keep a brave face.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I sigh. “I need to know one thing first.”

He nods. “Okay.”

Pausing, I take a deep breath. “Who are you?”

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