Page 89 of Give Me Forever Love

“What about it?” I ask.

“It needs to be unpacked, K.”

I sigh. “But it’s so much fun getting you all worked up.”

He points at me as he opens the door passenger side door to his car.

“Watch it, wife, or no foot rub.”

I act like I’m zipping a zipper over my lips.

“I got my car,” I say.

“We’ll get it later. I want to take you to get ice cream.”

“Man, you’re really doing a good job at this sucking up thing.” I wobble over to his car as I reach into my pocket for my phone to text Claire and let her know I’ll be back to get mine after ice cream. It’s parked on the curb, in front of the apartment, but just in case because she’s a worrier.

I climb in and he shuts the door. He strolls over to his side and opens the door.

“Dude, hurry up, I’m starting to burn alive.”

“I’m hurrying,” he says, putting the keys in and flipping the AC on high. We pull out and head through town.

“So, are you going to unpack it?” he asks as we stop at a red light.

“No, because it’s actually my hospital bag.”

He looks over at me and I laugh. “Well, that makes sense,” he says as the light turns green. We head straight as the sun fades behind the tall buildings of Atlanta. I turn my head when I see a bright light in the corner of my eye, and it’s as if time stands completely still. I hit Bryce’s arm to get his attention, but it’s too late.

The car does a complete rotation after I hear metal bend and glass shatter. The sun flashes behind my closed lids, and my head hits the window.

Lights out.

Chapter Thirty- One

Bryce

The sound of the car horn is all I hear, but then something else catches my attention. My ears perk and I move, wincing when I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder. The air bag is deployed, and I turn my head to see K.

“Kat,” I choke, moving and hissing as I do. She’s not conscious. Visions of my brother as a little boy swim through my mind, causing panic to shake my bones. I’ve got to get us out of here. Steam drifts from the hood of the car, and there’s glass everywhere.

“Kat, wake up,” I shake her shoulder, but she doesn’t move. I unhook my seatbelt and remove it. I sit up, looking over her stomach to make sure there’s been no outer damage. “K. Can you hear me, baby?” I ask, reaching to feel her pulse, but just as I do, I’m snatched out of the driver’s side door.

“What the fuck?” I say, looking up as a man slings me on the ground, tiny shards of glass cutting my palms. He points a gun at me. I put my hands up. “Man, that’s my wife in there. She’s pregnant.” What the fuck is going on here? My eyes are wild, my pulse out of beat.

He’s got a ski mask on, and all I see are his shiny teeth as he grins before spitting on the ground beside me. “Tell Moretti to stay off our turf.” He shoots the gun and hits me in the shoulder. A loud ringing filters through my ears as my nervous system goes haywire in shock of what just happen.

“Who the fuck is Moretti?” I call out in pain, feeling the coolness from my blood as it spills onto the pavement. I groan as he climbs into an SUV and speeds out of here.

People run up to us. “Call the fucking ambulance,” I say, my vision fading as too much blood leaks from the wound. “My wife.” I black out.

______________

I wake with the sound of beeping and the smell of bleach. I open my eyes, feeling the hard burn from the gunshot.

“K,” I say, looking around frantically. My voice sounds like gravel, and my throat burns like hot ash. I spot the clock on the wall. It’s been hours since the wreck. Taking in my surroundings, I see I’m hooked to an IV drip, and I’m alone in the hospital room. I throw the covers off of me with my good arm and swing my legs over.

I stand, my knees give out, and I fall to the floor, ripping the IV from my arm and other things I didn’t see attached to me in the dark room. An alarm goes off as blood drips down my arm. The door swings open and a nurse runs in.

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