Page 138 of Contentious

Carson took her hand while Ty hovered over them. “I’m okay. We’re all okay. That’s what matters.”

Cresley dropped her head to Carson’s chest and sobbed.

When the EMTs arrived, Cresley quickly updated them on the stab wounds and how he’d been released from the hospital only that morning.

Was this really the same day he’d been released?

“Can we go with him?” she asked as they loaded him onto a gurney.

“Follow in my car,” he said. “We’ll need a way home.”

“Our crime scene officers will want to process the vehicle,” one of the cops said.

“Do it at the hospital. Cresley and Ty’s DNA is already in there.”

“I guess that’s okay, then.”

“Tell them to come to the hospital to do what they need to do before we head home,” Carson said to the officer.

“I’ll pass that on.”

“We’ll be right behind you.” She and Ty ran for the SUV. “Buckle up, buddy.” She drove out of the parking lot right behind the ambulance. Every inch of her body quivered violently from the shock of the last half hour. Seeing Marlon walk away with Ty had nearly sent her over the edge, but the gunshot had stopped her heart.

That sound would echo through her mind for an eternity.

Thank God Carson was still there, although would this be the incident that made him say enough of the drama that seemed to surround her lately? Who could blame him for running for the hills the second he was able to after all the chaos she’d brought into his life?

Carson’s spare phone rang, jangling her already-frazzled nerves as she juggled driving and reaching for the phone.

“Hello?”

“Cresley! It’s Julian. Where are you guys?”

“San Diego. We’re on the way to the hospital. Carson…”

“What? What happened to him?”

“He saved our lives and helped the police capture Marlon. He was bleeding again, and he fainted, so they’re taking him to be checked out.”

“What hospital?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll call you back when I find out.”

“We’re on the way to you. Just tell me where to go.”

“I will. Julian… I was so scared that he was going to kill us all.”

“He’ll get what’s coming to him now. We’ll make sure of that.”

“Carson was amazing. He drove for hours when he could barely sit up and… he shot Marlon to keep him from escaping.”

“My brother, the badass. We’re coming, Cres. Stay strong.”

“I’m trying.”

Somehow, she managed to drive them safely to the hospital and find a parking space in the emergency lot. She texted Julian with the hospital information and then ran with Ty toward the entrance.

“Our friend was just brought in,” she told the nurse at reception. “Carson Remington. He’d want us with him.”