Page 122 of Crimson Love

I have to know that he’s okay.

“Dammit,” the officer bites.

They both approach from the rear but come to an abrupt stop and look at each other.

“No,” I utter. “No. No-no!”

One officer presses his radio attached to his vest and calls out so many numbers, I have no clue what they could mean other than something bad. He requests more back up, the chief, and medical support.

I try to run, but my shoes are not made for the snow. I slip and trip as I go.

“Jett!” I call as I round the corner.

One of the officers stops me right as I see it.

My father is on the ground in the blood-soaked snow. It’s a red so dark, it’s crimson.

Jett stands over him and raises his hands to show he’s unarmed. “I tossed the gun over there. We were wrestling for it when it went off. I did not pull that trigger.”

At the sight of him standing and breathing, so full of life, my heart skips a beat. I drop his cell to the snow and follow it to the cold, hard ground and weep in relief.

I hear Jett ask permission to move. “Can I go to her?”

“Yeah, man. Just don’t leave. This is going to be one hell of a report to write.”

My tears turn into sobs when I feel his hands on me and then his arms. He lifts me from the snow and pulls me to his chest.

“The gunshot,” I cry. “I didn’t know what happened. I thought it was you. I don’t know what I would’ve done had it been you.”

He rubs my back with his hands for friction and puts his lips to my ear to soothe me. “It’s over, baby. It’s all over.”

More sirens sound on the horizon. Jett and I turn to watch another SUV barrel toward us before coming to an angled stop to block any oncoming traffic. Dean unfolds from the driver’s seat and surveys the situation. He yanks his ballcap lower over his face and zips his coat up to his neck.

He looks straight at Jett. “You okay?”

Jett lifts his chin. “I’m good. Reed Shaw, not so much. He was still alive the last I checked.”

Dean tips his head back to his police car. “Get in the back of my cruiser so she stays warm. I’ll have someone out to get you both back to the station to take your statements. I need to get this shit taken care of before we lose light.”

Dean disappears to where my father was left bleeding out in the snow. Another siren sounds as an ambulance appears.

I don’t ask another word about my father.

Dead.

Alive.

I don’t care.

Either way, he’ll pay for what he’s done and never be a threat to me or anyone else.

Jett starts to lead me to the cruiser, but I pull his hand to stop him.

He turns to me. Blood seeps from a cut under this eye, and there’s concern laced in his features. “Baby, were you hurt in the crash?”

I shake my head and don’t move. Blowing snow stings my skin, but I can’t wait another second. I repeat what’s circling my mind like a news ticker on repeat. “I thought I lost you.”

He pulls me into his muscled arms and wraps me up. “I’m fine. Let me get you out of the weather before you —”