Page 131 of Samson

The paramedic checked, then quickly pressed down, shouting instructions above.

Samson’s head spun as more people appeared above, but his blurry vision mashed everything together until it was indiscernible.

After several more minutes, he felt like he was moving but didn’t know if that was vertigo or if something more was happening.

He heard shouts and cheers before he recognized he’d been pulled out. At least if he died now, he wouldn’t die in that hole.

Another face appeared above him, and he recognized it.

“Trevors.”

“I can’t believe you survived. You really are invincible.”

“Tell that to my broken body.”

“You’re going to be okay. You’re going to make it,” he said as he followed along.

“I don’t believe you.”

He looked past Trevors and saw Delilah, peering over the shoulder of a police officer. He reached out to her, and she reached back, like in the dream he’d had.

After being loaded into the back of the ambulance, the doors were shut, and the paramedic asked him more questions, but he couldn’t get his mouth to work anymore.

“He’s lost too much blood,” he heard one of them say before he closed his eyes and gave in to the darkness that had been calling to him.

Delilah watched the ambulance drive away, her body rigid as she held onto the emotion that was too much to handle.

Luca stood beside her with his arm around her.

He shook his head. “I can’t believe it. I just…how?” When Delilah began to shake, he said, “I need to get you home.”

“No. You need to take me to the hospital.”

“Are you sure?”

“Agent Trevors,” she said when she saw him approach.

“Can you give us a second?” he said to Luca and directed Delilah through the barricade. “How’re you doing?”

“I don’t know. That’s the last thing I expected. I thought maybe Demir had survived, but Samson?”

“I need you to know it’s not looking good. He’s lost a lot of blood. They said he had a gunshot wound. The only reason it didn’t kill him was because of the weight pressing on him. It must have stopped the bleeding, but his chance of survival is slim. I don’t want you getting your hopes up.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

He blew out a breath as he rested his hands on his hips and looked around. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“Can I go to the hospital?”

He scrubbed at his chin. “You think you can handle it?”

“Yes. Please.”

“All right. If you can get Luca to bring you, I’ll call ahead and let them know.”

“You’re not coming?”

“I’ll be there soon. I need to tie up some things here first.”

---