Page 110 of From Us, Forever

He was beating the shit out of Dennis.

Even though he had the upper hand, I shot forward to help him, but just then, several other people clambered into the room, separating them both, while they pulled a battered Dennis away.

Only then did I hear the distant wail of the sirens in the background, and I knew that it was all over—they were here. They found me. I was okay.

In an instant, I was engulfed in a protective embrace, holding me so tight that I could barely breathe, and relief unlike anything poured into me at the thought of being back in his arms—warm and safe. “I thought I’d lost you.” His voice cracked, his eyes sweeping over every inch of my face. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, Jay. I’m fine,” I cried, squeezing my arms around him. His familiar scent seeped into me as the fear dissipated. “I’m okay.”

“Good,” he muttered, burying his face in the crook of my neck. “I was so scared.”

“But I’m okay now.”

We just held each other for a long while, not caring about the outside world. Nothing else mattered more at that moment as we sought comfort in each other’s arms.

Seconds turned to minutes as we just stayed there.

The adrenaline was probably dissipating from my body when I felt something cold and sticky seeping through my dress. Frowning, I tried to shift my weight, but Jay wouldn’t move an inch.

“Hey, I think it’s time we go home,” I whispered, softly trying to get his attention, but his head just rolled to the side.

“Jay.” My stomach churned as I shook him. “Jay, what’s wrong? Are you all right?” I pushed against his shoulders, and I gasped when he landed on my lap with a thud. His weight made me sway backward, losing my balance, and only then did I notice that his shirt was soaked red.

And my heart froze.

“No, no, no, no,” I pleaded, my fingers fumbling over him, searching for the source of blood. “Somebody, help us,” I shouted, cradling his cold cheeks. He looked ashen and gray—lifeless. “Please, wake up, Jay. Please, please, please God.” My hands trembled as I shook him. “You can’t leave me like this. You listen to me. I love you so much.” My voice broke as I sobbed.

My heart felt like it was shattering into a million little pieces with each second as the man who was my everything lay in my lap, cold.

“Ma’am, you need to move.” Hands grabbed my shoulder as I clung to him. “We can’t help him if you don’t move, ma’am,” they insisted.

I jerked away but remained by his side, holding his hand as the paramedics swarmed over him and prodded.

Heavy footsteps approached us, and through my watery eyes, I watched Mikey kneel beside me. “He’ll be fine, E,” he said in a distraught tone, almost as if he didn’t believe his own words. “He has to be.”

Everything froze in me as I watched them haul him onto a gurney, and the women spoke over the radio as they rushed him out while I stumbled after them.

“We got a twenty-eight-year-old male, with a GSW to the chest, unconscious with a faint pulse. No exit wound and bleeding rapidly, GCS five, we’re bringing him in now.”

“Ma’am, you cannot come inside.” The lady stopped as they strapped Jay to the ambulance. He looked so pale and lifeless that it was killing me. “Every minute is important, ma’am.”

I nodded, instantly stepping away. My feet were rooted in the spot as I watched them sail away with the one person who kept my heart beating.

I stood almost at a standstill.

How the fuck did everything change in a moment?

He was there, right there with me. I had it all. I had him. And now I didn’t even know if he was coming back to me.

A scurry of motion caught my attention, and my head snapped as I watched two policemen bring Dennis out in handcuffs. He gave me a leering smile as they walked him toward the squad car.

I didn’t know what snapped me, but my feet moved on their own accord. My pulse roared in my ears as I found myself in front of him. “You fucking pig,” I screamed, fisting my hand as I hooked it hard across his face, and his cracked glasses went flying on the ground. He cursed, holding his already broken nose that was bleeding.

“Ma’am, you need to step—” They stopped short when Julian, who I didn’t even realize was standing beside us, held a hand, and they all cowered back.

“You will now regret the day you were born,” I sobbed, pointing a shaky finger at him. “For the rest of your pathetic little life.”

“E, come on.” Mikey circled my arm, gently tugging me away. “He’s not worth it.” He gestured for the cops to take Dennis away.

---