Page 122 of Gunnar

“Come on,” Torin mutters under his breath.

Gunnar keeps the truck moving fast, the forest sliding past in a blur of dark and light.

Orson fades in and out against me, his weight shifting, his breathing catching and settling and catching again.

From time to time, we all exchange panicked glances. The fear in the brothers’ eyes drives my own.

By the time the lodge comes into view, Orson is barely conscious.

Gunnar drives straight up to the door and slams on the brakes.

“Let’s go.”

The engine is still running as the doors fly open.

The two of them haul Orson out between them.

He’s deathly pale, and not even groaning anymore.

We go straight through to the kitchen and get him onto the table. Gunnar and Torin lifting together and laying him flat. I reach in to help, tugging his shirt open and peeling it back where it’s soaked through with blood, then flick on the overhead light. It’s just under the ribs. The entry wound is small, almost neat, but the skin around it is slick with blood.

Torin inspects it closely. “It’s still in there,” he says.

Gunnar turns to the counter, grabs a knife and heats it in the flame from the stove.

“Hold him.”

Torin leans his weight in. I move to Orson’s shoulders, pinning him as he stirs, a low sound catching in his throat.

Gunnar sets the blade to the wound.

“Now.”

He cuts in fast.

Orson bucks under us, a raw sound tearing out of him as his body arches.

“Keep him still.”

Torin bears down, and I put everything I’ve got into holding Orson in place as he fights it, his strength coming in short, desperate bursts.

Gunnar drops the knife and drives his fingers into the cut, searching blind, his hand slick with blood.

“Got it⁠—”

He digs deeper, then pulls back.

The bullet hits the table with a sharp, metallic sound.

The blood comes faster again.

Torin clamps down hard, leaning his weight into it.

Gunnar reaches past me, grabs a clean dish towel from beside the sink and folds it once, tight.

“Here.”

I press it down over Torin’s hand, feeling it soak through almost at once.