Page 72 of A Silent Reckoning

Shaun was able to gain another inch of belt. She wrapped the leftover leather around Dasha’s arm and secured it. She looked at the wound again and was relieved to see the blood flow had slowed.

It was still bleeding profusely though and Dasha would need immediate emergency medical attention or she could die. Shaun picked up the torn piece of Dasha’s sweater and pressed it against the wound, lifting Dasha’s hand to cover the makeshift bandage.

“Press as hard as you can until help arrives.”

Shaun lurched back and dragged herself to her feet, intending to head for the door. She paused and then turned on her heel and stared down at Dasha.

Dasha lay stoically on the floor, her hand over her wound, her eyes fixed on the ceiling above her.

“Tell me why,” Shaun said softly, sinking back to her knees next to Dasha.

Dasha refused to look at her and didn’t speak.

Shaun hesitated, not wanting to hurt Dasha again, but she needed to know why the other woman wanted her dead, and if Dasha died she would never know.

Shaun took hold of the leather binding and shook.

Dasha cried out and rolled her blazing eyes toward Shaun, anger rolling off her in waves.

“Your brachial artery has been severed. This fix is only temporary. Without help, you will die.”

Still Dasha said nothing.

“Do you understand, Dasha? You will die and you’ll do it without any of us ever knowing why. You raised Jozef as your son. He doesn’t deserve this.”

Some of the anger drained from Dasha’s expression and she licked her lips, wetting them so she could speak.

“Tell Jozef I love him.”

It wasn’t what Shaun was looking for, but it would have to do. If she left Dasha any longer, the woman would bleed out. She was going to need a transfusion as it was.

Shaun pushed to her feet and ran to the door, but before she could get it unlocked, Dasha spoke again, her harsh voice ringing out. “You’ll ruin us all.” Shaun looked over her shoulder to see Dasha pull herself up using a stall door. She sat back against the metal. “You already have.”

Shaun shook her head. “You’ve ruined yourself.”

Shaun unlocked the door and yanked it open. Karl was standing on the other side, his face reflecting alarm.

“Are you alright?” he demanded. “Dasha got by me and locked the door. I was looking for something to break it down.”

Shaun was surprised there weren’t a contingent of people on the other side of the door trying to get in. She and Dasha had screamed enough to bring the restaurant down, but apparently the washroom was sound-proofed. Weird, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it.

“You’re bleeding,” Karl said, reaching for Shaun’s arm.

She winced as he touched the cut.

She shook her head and pulled from his grip. “We have to go.”

Shaun swung around, not waiting for Karl, and hurtled toward the front exit uncaring of the gasps from patrons as a bleeding woman ran past them.

Karl was on her heels and then he was in front of her, pushing people out of the way. Before they left the restaurant, Shaun shouted at the maître d’, “Call an ambulance, there’s an injured woman in the washroom!”

She didn’t bother to wait for his reaction. She had to assume that Dasha had bodyguards inside the restaurant who would manage to organize themselves sooner rather than later. She didn’t want to be on the premises when that happened. She had no idea what would come next, if Dasha would try to attack her again.

The driver was waiting outside the car. When he saw Shaun, his face reflected alarm and he reached for the door handle, intending to open the car door for her.

“Never mind,” Shaun yelled. “Just get in and drive.”

Karl covered her while she jerked the car door open and flung herself inside. She landed on her side and curled her legs in so Karl could slam the door shut. Karl leapt into the front seat and growled at the driver, “Go!”

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