Page 122 of Manny

“Don’t sit him up,” Hustler warns. “Wanna stop the blood flow first. Manny?” Hustler taps Manny’s face. “He’s losin’ consciousness.”

My heart races as I shake him.

Everything in my life that has made me who I am has led me to this point. I can’t lose him.

I won’t lose him.

“I’m here,” I tell him. “We’re all here, you’re family, and we love you.”

Lace

I stare at Manny, and my heart constricts. Everyone is surrounding him, working frantically as I mumble. “It missed his heart, and any vital organs. It should be okay, right, Hustler?”

He pats me gently on the arm. “Wait here with Audrina. Don’t move.”

“But I want to be with Manny.”

He smiles softly as Audrina takes my hand. “I know, honey, but Casey will be here any moment and we need to get him to the hospital, where he’ll be in the best hands.”

“Is he going to be okay?” I can barely stammer the words. All of my trauma comes flooding back and I start falling apart. I hate myself for it. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about my freaking trauma. I start to shake and Hustler’s brow furrows.

“Lace?” he crouches toward me.

I feel Audrina’s arms around me. “I think she’s having a panic attack.”

“Just breathe,” he says as my brother moves back toward me.

“It’s okay, sis, I’ve got you.” Riot helps me with my breathing exercises; breathing that I’ve been doing since I was twelve and had to learn how to do everything again. “Just take it easy. Help is on the way. You gotta stay strong for him, he’s gonna be looked after by the best people.”

I shake my head. “What if he’s not, what if he?—”

Riot pulls me into his chest as he holds me, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “It’s gonna be okay, this is Manny we’re talkin’ about.”

I sob into my brother’s chest as he holds me. I’ve never been so afraid. The chance that we could lose him is just too strong.

“Cops were called,” I hear Cash from the entryway. “One of his men got hit, too. Didn’t make it.”

Mateo is sitting opposite on his phone as he barks orders at someone in Italian.

“This is such a mess,” I whisper.

“Fuckin’ Shade,” he mutters. “She snuck back into town, not like she’s gonna announce her presence.”

“This still isn’t over,” I sob. “She’s still out there, did anyone get a shot in?”

“We got plenty,” Riot mutters.

“My men are swarming the area,” Mateo tells us. “If she didn’t get hit, then she’ll wish she had been. Who the fuck is this bitch?”

“She was goin’ for my sister,” Riot explains. “Some months ago, she came after me but escaped when I was rescued. She’s a highly trained sniper, and I’ve no doubt she’s been biding her time. This was the perfect opportunity to get everyone here in one place.”

Mateo frowns. “I had a phone call about Lace’s whereabouts…” He shakes his head. “Didn’t make much sense at the time. I just wanted to find her.”

“I didn’t do shit!” I’m hysterical. “I keep telling you that! Now Manny’s been shot and he might not live through this!”

“Don’t say that,” Bandit’s voice is low, like I’ve never heard it. His face is also pale, agony written all over him. We’ve all suffered so much loss.

“I should call Shep,” I whisper. “He needs to be here.”

---