Page 121 of Poisoned Pawn
The knife twirls through the air heading straight for Sloane’s chest, but at the last second, she’s knocked aside, falling to the ground. Rook’s eyes widen as his knife plunges into Lennox a split second before my bullet hits him in the side of the head. I wish I had time to savour the sight.
The room fills with screams as I race to Star, dropping to my knees and skidding to a halt beside her as she’s pulled to the floor with Rook, his hand still clinging onto her hair.
I untangle his fingers from her hair as his dead eyes stare off toward where his mum is and roll Star to the side.
Her eyes meet mine. “Did you get him?” she asks, her voice breaking.
“Hey, princess. I fucking got him.” I push her top up to look at her wounds. Blood pumps from the deep knife wound with every breath and a thin trickle seeps from the slash Rook gave her earlier.
I tug my t-shirt over my head and push it against her side.
“Cart…”
“Shh, I fucking got you. Just stay still. You’re going to be fine.” The words taste like a fucking lie as my t-shirt becomes saturated with her blood, tainting my hands with blood that should never be shed.
“Hey,” I say softly as Star’s eyes begin to close. “Eyes on me, princess. Eyes on me.” I let a little of my dominant tone slip through my words hoping they will be enough to keep her fighting. “This is not the time to run, Star. Stay with me. Fucking stay with me!” I press harder against her side, causing her to suck in a breath and her face to pinch in pain, but her eyes open, focusing on me after a second.
Loud voices carry through the house, barely audible over Sloane’s sobs as she cradles Lennox. There’s a pool of blood building beneath him, soaking into Sloane’s trousers.
“Carter,” Star croaks pulling my attention back to her.
“I’m here. Help is coming. You’re going to be okay.” I’m not sure who those words are for more. Either way, I have to believe them.
“I need to…tell my family I love…” Her words cut off with a cough.
“Don’t you fucking dare. You can tell them yourself.” I cup her face with my free hand. “I need you, Star. I fucking love you.” I press my lips to hers. Wishing like fuck they could heal her.
“Star! Carter!” comes Roxanne’s harried voice a moment before she rushes round the corner, coming to a sudden stop when she sees us.
“Oh my god no! Star” She drops down on the other side of Star, taking her hand in hers.
“Roxy…
“I got you. Everything’s going to be alright. I promise.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I know she’s praying she can keep that promise.
“You got a credit or bank card?” I ask quickly.
“Yes. Hold on.” She lets go of Star’s hand and digs around in her jacket pocket, pulling out a bank card a second later and handing it to me.
“Good. Take this,” I say, nodding to my blood-soaked t-shirt. She puts her hand over the top of it and gives me a nod to say she’s ready. “Now,” I say, and as she pulls the t-shirt away, I quickly place the bank card over the puncture wound.
Star’s eyes are closed again, and her skin is pale and clammy. She’s going into shock.
“Please tell me there’s a fucking ambulance on its way?” I grit out, my wet, sticky blood-soaked fingers pressing harder on the bank card, trying to stay in place as Star begins to shake.
Roxanne nods as Maddox appears carrying a blanket. She takes it from him and lays it over Star. “Any second,” she adds like she’s willing them to walk through the door.
“Jesus Christ!” Maddox exclaims, and I follow his line of sight.
Sloane is still holding onto Lennox, her forehead pressed against his cheek, but his eyes are dull and lifeless. The knife Rook threw, meant for Sloane, protrudes from Lennox’s neck.
I look away. I don’t have time to think about Lennox right now. The next few minutes pass infinitely slowly as we wait for the ambulance.
“Come on! Where the fuck are they?” I mutter, feeling like she’s slipping away from me.
When they do arrive, Maddox has to drag me away so they can work on her.