Page 65 of Second Goal

“Shit,” Kane says, staggering backward.

“It’s not her,” I rasp. “That’s not Kiley.”

The doctors look between us, frowning.

“I don’t know who that is, or why she has Kiley’s phone and ID,” I say. “But that’s not her.”

Kane has buckled over, hands on his knees. “Then where the hell is she?”

Chapter Twenty

Kiley

“Miss, can you hear me?”A paramedic crouches in front of me. “Are you hurt?”

I look down at my hands covered in Amy’s blood. “It’s... it’s not my... mine.”

“Okay. But I’d still like to check you out.” She helps me stand, and when I do, my legs give out a little. Another paramedic is beside me, and they help me walk.

We’re somewhere in the college, a lab of some kind, but I don’t remember getting here. I just remember running, people screaming, hands pushing me, gunshots being fire - and Cruz’s voice.

Calling for me.

Taunting me.

“Whe-where is he?”

“Who?” The female paramedic frowns at me as she leads me toward an ambulance.

It’s dark now, and there’s yellow tape everywhere, along with camera crews and crowds of people.

“The...” I swallow, having a hard time putting a sentence together. “The shooter.”

“The police got him,” she says. “You’re safe now.”

I don’t feel safe. I feel exposed, raw, and cold straight to my core, and all I want is to be in Blake’s arms. That’s where I feel safe. The only place I’ve ever, truly felt protected.

And I pushed him away.

“I need my phone,” I say, panic building when I can’t find it.

“Just sit here,” she tells me, helping me into the back of an ambulance. “I’m going to take your vitals, then—”

“Kiley.” It’s my brother’s voice I hear, and when I turn, I see the flood of emotions that fills him as he races toward the ambulance. He calls out, “Blake, she’s here,” before jumping into the cabin. His arms wrap around me, and I hear the relief in his voice when he mutters, “Thank fucking God, you’re all right.”

He doesn’t let me go, not for a long moment, and the tears I’ve been holding back burst. I’m not sure how long I stay there like that, me sobbing in my brother’s arms, but when I pull back, I see Blake standing outside, a few feet away from the ambulance.

His face is void of color when he steps up, into the now cramped space. I push away from my brother and let Blake pull me against him.

This is where I feel safe - in his arms.

“Excuse me, but you’re both going to have to leave,” the paramedic says. “I still need to examine her.”

Kane steps off, but Blake doesn’t make any attempt to move. He cups my face, eyes searching mine. “Are you okay? You’re not hurt?”

I shake my head. “But... he shot Amy. I think she’s—”

“Yeah.” He presses his lips to my forehead and lets out an uneven breath. “I know. We saw her.”

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