Page 56 of A Coffee Away

The world was shrouded in a dark veil as I ran to him and knelt on the asphalt. “Robbie!”

His skin and face were scraped raw along the right side, his shirt and pants torn. I grabbed the back of his head to pull him up, but a warm wetness covered my hand.

Blood. It was everywhere. His sandy-blond hair had a pinkish hue, its soft strands matted with it.

My hands trembled as I kissed his temple.

The coppery taste of his blood branded me with the doom of losing him.

An inhuman cry echoed around me, as though my own soul had split in two.

No, no, no. This can’t be happening!

My knees were soaked with his blood. A gash on the back of his head spilled onto the street. “Help! Someone help!”

My throat burned. I couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not ever.

Miguel crouched on his other side, his hand on his pulse. “He’s alive, but you need to let go of him.” He gripped my shoulder. “Esteban, please. We don’t know the extent of his injuries. The paramedics will be here soon.”

Why aren’t you waking up? There wasn’t enough air. I couldn’t…

“Breathe.” Raúl’s rough but soothing voice was right beside me. He cupped my face as I hugged Robbie to my chest. “Baby, listen to me. You need to let go of him. I already called 911. They’re almost here.” His glazed dark eyes seized mine, and I released a hard exhale.

Everything was blurry. Sirens sounded in the distance, but I held on to Robbie.

“Esteban, I have him.” Eva’s face was smudged with tears as she laid Robbie on the street.

Blue and red flashed violently around me. Sirens blared as the paramedics worked on Robbie.

My heart pounded in my ears.

What the fuck were they saying? I couldn’t hear it. I crawled to get to him.

Steph hugged me from behind.

I fought her hold. “What’s wrong with him?”

“Let them work, hon,” she said next to my ear. “He needs them.” Her voice broke as the paramedics signaled for us to come.

I was numb as Steph led me to the ambulance.

“We’ll be right behind.” Steph closed the back door of the ambulance.

Raúl stood with some officers and a man I didn’t recognize at the edge of the street.

A slight chill ran over me. Was it him? Was he the one who hurt my Robbie?

My muscles strained against my skin. He’d taken his smile. My hands twitched.

The ambulance came to life with a jerk, pulling my attention back, and I intertwined my fingers with Robbie’s.

A paramedic checked on him while the other swerved through the streets of Condado at high speed.

A red car followed behind us. Was it Miguel?

When we arrived at the hospital, Miguel got out of his car. He grabbed me as they transported Robbie through the double doors of the ER.

I raked my hair back. “I can’t lose him. I…”