Page 112 of Audiophile

Tommy. They’re here because of Tommy and Darin. I owe them my life.

“GSW to the leg,” a voice breaks in, close to my ear, and Reed hisses out a sound of pain. A hand squeezes and prods my arm. “A graze here, too. Upper arm. You’ll need to let go of her,” the voice says, and Reed holds me tighter. “Sir, I need to see how serious your wound is.”

“Reed,” I protest hoarsely. “Let me go. You got shot.”

“So did you,” he counters, but loosens his hold. “What is this?” Reed snorts a shocked laugh. He’s still pale as he nudges the statue with his good leg. It’s a pixie sitting on a mushroom. “Only you could rescue me with a fairy, Pet.”

“I didn’t plan it that way,” I admit, hysteria building in my throat. With the shock wearing off, the world comes back into focus. Myarm burns, as does my forehead. There’s a lot of talking, both in the room and over the radio, but I can’t make sense of any of it. A group of people rush a gurney out of the room. “Kinley?”

“The police intervened.” Intervened. Such a bland word for something immense. I’m shaking as I let go of him. The fingers in my left hand are still numb. I can’t tell if I broke my arm when I hit her. It doesn’t matter.

I soak up the sight of Reed’s golden eyes and strong jaw. An EMT pulls us apart to lay Reed down and apply pressure to his thigh. He says something that sounds like it’s underwater.

“How bad is it? Are you dying? Are you in pain?” I ask, crawling to kneel above his head.

Reed shakes his in disbelief. “Pet,youalmost died. Yell at me. Hit me. Please.” He cups my jaw in his hand, stroking my cheek with the same reverence he traced the pages of my book. “You’re incredibly beautiful upside down.”

“So are you. You’re going to be okay, Reed. We’re going to be okay.” He nods, and I press our foreheads together, breathing him in while I come back into my body. Everything hurts. My muscles are tight and my face throbs. Reed has to be in agony. I press my hand to Reed’s chest, and his heartbeat echoes under my palm.

It’s the only thing that matters. He’s safe. Safe to see another dawn.

The officer pulls me away so the medics can get Reed onto a gurney. He reaches for my hand as they guide us toward the ambulance. We’re separated in the emergency department, and I’m given medication for the pain. It numbs me, and I fade in and out of time while they take my clothes, my DNA, and photos of my wounds before and after they’ve been cleaned out.

A scan shows that the nerve damage from my uppercut should heal in a few days to weeks, and the police come into my room to take a statement. I’m exhausted when it’s over, but all I want is to see Reed.

“Petra!Petra!” Livi is so loud that her screams are impossible to miss. There’s a low conversation and then she comes bursting inwith Tommy. “Oh my God, Troni, I thought you died!” she sobs, throwing herself over me. “Darin heard over the scanner—”

“Livi.” Tommy warns her, and Livi presses her lips shut. Tommy looks me over, assessing where I’m bandaged. “We got some conflicting reports. You were shot? How’s your pain level?”

“Barely a graze, Dr. Diamante,” I tease, but I can’t manage a smile. I’m too busy memorizing both of their faces. “I’m worried about Reed. I didn’t—there was so much happening. I don’t know how he is.”

“Darin is asking about him right now,” Livi assures me. “Can I get you anything? Water? Wine? After a morning like yours, I’d want some wine.”

“Jesus, Liv.” Tommy wipes a hand over his face. “She’s probably on a narcotic. No wine.”

“WellIneed wine,” she mutters. She folds her fingers around mine, and Tommy takes my other hand. “What happened? Tell us everything.”

I grimace, because the cops wouldn’t share anything with me. “I don’t know much. I went out for donuts, and when I came back Kinley was in the kitchen with a gun.”

“It’s not a game of Clue,” Livi chides.

“Troni’s in shock. Give her a break. She’s going to need time.”

“We heard—” Livi swallows. “They said there was a female in critical condition on the scanner. We had no way to know whether that was you.”

Critical condition. My heart rate monitor beeps faster as the terror from the kitchen comes back full force. If that officer hadn’t taken the shot, I wouldn’t be here right now. Was Kinley’s pretend love worth all of our pain? Worth her stress and anxiety, living a crazed life in pursuit of something that didn’t exist?

Livi purses her lips against the tears that trickle down her face. “Silla is on her way, and I left the kids with Mama. They’ll drive over later.”

“I’m sorry I scared you all.” I squeeze Livi’s hand, and the ice in my veins thaws. “I wouldn’t be here without you, Tommy. Thank you.”

Tommy takes my other hand, wiping his face on his shoulder. “I’ve never prayed as much as I did today.”

“Me too,” I admit. It’s a good reminder, and I close my eyes and send my prayer out into the universe.

Thank you for sending Reed when I didn’t know I needed him. For saving him. For giving me another chance at happiness. I know now what it means for me to walk with faith. It was never about church and rituals. It was about family, love, compassion, and forgiveness. I promise to walk in those places, and think of you while I do.

Chapter forty-two

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