Page 86 of Daddy's Bodyguard
“I’m tired.” I sigh. “Ellie misses you.”
“Yeah, well, I need you.”
“You survived all on your own.” I remind. “It’s okay, Sofia.”
“No.” She shakes her head and presses her forehead to mine again. “I’m so sorry, Jasper. I’m sorry. I got scared. Fighting is easy. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“Shhh.” I close my eyes. “Just stay.”
The sudden rush of footsteps interrupts Sofia’s sobs. Her screams make me open my eyes, ready to take on whoever is hurting her, but I relax when I realize it’s the police and EMTs. A pair of cops are pulling her away from me, and she’s screaming blue murder and fighting them off. They settle her on the couch as a paramedic gives her an injection in her arm, and she relaxes against the seat, closing her eyes with a sigh.
“Three gurneys,” someone else orders.
Another paramedic comes up to me. “We’re getting you out of here. It’s going to hurt.”
“I’m used to pain,” I reply.
I grit my teeth, muscling through the pain as they load me up. Everything feels hazy until I give into whatever they give me, and the last thing on my mind is Sofia’s face.
***
Waking up is hell. I feel gross, slimy, and everything is too bright. Pain rips through me, teasing every nerve, and all I want to do is escape. I try to move, but I can’t. I need to get to Sofia. She was screaming. So much screaming. So much blood. An alarm goes off somewhere and then more pain. Someone shouting and then silence. Darkness.
I awake to find Sofia petting my hair, her eyes red and weary. She gives a gasp when I touch her hand. Her face brightens a little. But her mouth doesn’t match her words though. There seems to be a lag.
“Never have I ever … killed someone,” she whispers.
“Cheap shot,” I reply. I take a gulp of water from the glass he hands me. “Never have I ever … gone to a frat party.”
“Nope.” She grins. “Too much work to do.”
“We’ll have to crash one to fix that. I want to see you dance. Carissa says you’re good when you’re drunk.”
“I can’t trust her with a single secret.” She shakes her head, then laughs, but it’s wrong. That’s not how it happened.
“Once we can leave, let’s go dancing. We can even get tipsy first. So we only remember the best of it.”
“Are you asking me on a date?” she teases.
“Seems right after all this sex and TV time.” I sit up, wincing from the pain, although it’s not too bad this time around. “Never have I ever done things this backwards before.”
Her eyes soften, and she brushes her fingers across my lips. “Me either.”
“Aw. You’re making me feel special. Keep it up, and I might catch feelings for you.” I kiss her chin before flopping back in her lap.
Her fingers brush through my hair again, and she watches them instead of me. “You haven’t already?”
“Have you?”
She swallows. “Two truths and lie.”
“Tell me,” I argue. “I just want the truth. No more lies between us.”
Sofia opens her mouth to reply, but the smile suddenly leaves her lips, and she gasps, leaning closer, pressing on my stomach. “For God’s sake, Jasper, stay with me. Stay!”
What the hell?“I’m right here, Sofia.” I grab her hand. “Hey, look at me.”
“Wake up,” she sobs, tears filling her eyes, blood rolling down her chin. “Wake up!”