Page 94 of Theta

"That's not—" I halt, laughter turning into a cough of pain. "Never mind. This way. She’s over here."

Dante helps me over to where I left Story, and I find her slumped against the tire, head lolling to one side, hand flopped to her lap.

"STORY!" I cry, falling away from Dante's support, dropping to my knees and reaching for her. "Story?"

I press two fingers to her throat, and I have to hunt around a little bit until I find a faint but steady pulse, and I let out a sob of relief. "Thank god, she's alive. Just unconscious. You help her, I'll follow."

"You barely can walk, mio amico.”

"I'll be fine." I reach up. "Can you shine your light on her?"

The white light flares, and I check her wound—it's bled through the gauze. I slide a hand under her, which must cause pain since she moans even unconscious—no exit wound. Shit.

I do for her what she did for Enzo and the only thing I can do—shove a tampon in there and hope for the best. I stick a pad over it and then shoulder the bag. "Okay, let's get her up." I take her hands. "Story? We gotta move, babe."

"Mmm."

"Story?"

“Mmm."

I cup her cheek. "Hey. C'mon. Need your help, sweetheart."

"Killy?" It's a muzzy whisper, tight with pain, slow, confused.

"I'm here."

“Hurts."

"I know. We're gonna get you help."

"How…you?"

I sniffle a laugh. "Jesus, babe. I'm fine. No big deal."

Headlights sweep this way. "Ehi…I think maybe we go some faster, hey? Someone, they come, and it is no good for us to be here no more."

"We gotta get up, babe. Gotta move."

"Kay. I'll try."

We work together to get Story to her feet; Dante takes the brunt of her weight while I provide support on her other side.

She's delirious. "Hey, you must be the drug dealer buddy."

“His name is Dante," I say.

"Dante. Dante. Dante. Daaaaaan…tayyy!"

I clap a hand over her mouth. "We don't need to sing right now, babe. We're trying to get away from the dozen or so dead dudes without attention."

"A dozen?"

"Or so. I think. I don't know. I didn't stop to count."

"That's more than five."

I snort. “Yep, true."