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“Holy shit, what would you have done if wedidn’t come to look after you and drive you home?”

The girls thought it was hilarious, even Jadewas snorting with laughter.

“Wes made a bet,” Renee piped in.

“Yeah, yous a quick response,” Patriciagiggled.

“They think you don’t know how to say no tome,” Jade whispered. “I don’t care what they think. Thanks forcoming. I’m tired. I couldn’t sleep. I was cold without you.” Sheshivered against me and I rubbed her back as she snuggled againstme.

I didn’t care what her friends thought Icared what Jade felt. Kissing her forehead, I hugged her to me andgazed over at my brother to see Derick smiling. It wasn’t acurse.

Chapter Eleven

Jade

The weekend had been great. I’d spent Fridaynight at Cassie’s with all the girls and Saturday at the beach.Stephan had joined us and he’d looked after me. It was becomingharder and harder not to fall for him. He was amazing and he put mefirst every time. We went to bed early Saturday night and I sleptin his bed draped over him.

Sunday we had a lazy day. Well I did, readingand baking in the kitchen. Stephan had gone to the gym, probably tobeat the crap out of his bodyguards, or for them to do it to him. Istayed away from the gym and the no go zone of the property.

Now it was Monday and I stood by our meetingplace outside of the school waiting for Stephan. He was late.Usually he meets me on my way to our spot or was already waitingfor me. I’d just told Cassie to go before her brother left withouther. Bringing my bag around I got my phone out and checked to seeif Stephan had called to tell me he was running late.

Glancing around, I saw Derick coming towardand me smiling. I moved away from the tree I leaned against andwent to him. “Where is your brothe—” Before I’d finished myquestion gunfire rang out around me. “Get down,” Derick yelled.

A burning pain hit my good arm as I dove forthe ground. Yelling and screaming all around me had me staying downand not daring to look. Derick’s body came and covered my own.

“Oh shit, fuck, you’re hit.” I heard Derick’svoice in the distance but my arm hurt and my cast arm felt like ithad been cracked again. I felt like I was far away and filled withpain. I wanted to close my eyes, they were so heavy. The weight onme kept reminding me of the pain and I knew I shouldn’t close myeyes.

More shots sounded and cars and what soundedlike motorbikes screeched away.

“Derick, get off her. We need to see if youhave been hit.” I knew the voice. Who was it?

“Brand, I’m fine. Jade’s been hit. Oh shit,Brand, that’s a lot of blood.”

Ah, Brand, head security. I heard whatsounded like ripping.

“Check her over, Derick, to see if she’s beenshot anywhere else. David’s called the ambulance and the police. Heand a team are waiting and the gates. Try not to move her too much,she’s been hit in an artery.”

Brand lifted my arm and tied a piece of clotharound me tight. I screamed as he tugged. Black surrounded myvision and then nothing.

*****

Stephan

I’d been talking to my business teacher abouta makeup test for one I’d missed while away looking after Jade. Weagreed I’d come in early tomorrow and he’d give me a do-over. ThenI ran out of the room and down to the tree where I meet Jade. Icould see the tree in the distance and Derick walking to Jade. I’dasked him to tell her where I was.

Everything happened so fast. A blue Ford carand three motorbikes drove up to the pickup zone, guns appeared andthey shot at Derick and Jade. I watched with a sickening feeling asbullets flew by and Jade dropped to the ground. I crouched down andwatched Derick crawl to Jade and cover her.

It was only minutes but felt like hourspassed before Brand, David, Rex, and Royce showed up, shooting backat the car and motorbikes. They sped off and then the gates closed.I kept low the whole time and ran, ducking and dodging to get toJade and Derick.

Brand made it before me and I arrived in timeto see the once green grass covered in red. Jade screamed and Ilooked to see the bottom part of her covered in blood. Derick waschecking her, running his hands gently up and down her nowunconscious body.

Dropping to the ground, I stared at Derick.“Please. Please tell me she’s okay,” I choked out.

Derick grimaced and held his hands over herthigh. “Put pressure here. I need to check her other leg.”

I did as I was told in a haze of disbelief.Blood oozed onto my fingers and I moved so my palm pressed downslowing the flow of blood. Derick ran his fingers over her otherhalf.

“What do we have?”

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