Shot in the dark

Chapter 12

Angelo

Preston left the next day. I woke up but didn’t see him. I walked the halls and still didn’t see him. I sighed thinking he left for his house. I heard his laugh and turned to see him playing with Jeremy, one of the maids' sons. Jeremy saw me walking up to them and hugged my knees. The three year old boy is known for creating mischief but over all he is a really sweet kid. 

“You're good with kids?” Preston asked. I nodded and sat down with them. 

“I used to babysit him when he was younger. Right when he would get fussy if he was strapped to his mom for a while.” I explained. 

“Why was he here?” He asked me. I looked around at the garden they were in and took in the pretty flowers.

“His mom had to work but everytime she put him down he would start crying so she strapped him onto her. Once he was older though I took care of him for her.” I explained picking Lilly’s from a nearby plant. 

“I don’t know anything about my staff.” He said quietly. I turned to look at him and smiled.

“There’s still time.” I suggested. He nodded and Played with a yellow truck on the ground.

“How are you so good at everything?” Preston asked me. I looked up from my mini bouquet.

“I’m not.” I was confused as to what he was talking about.

“You are. You're good at missions, you're good with every single weapon I’ve seen you with, I've seen you're skilled at driving, I’ve seen how cool you can be. I’m not anything like that!” He yelled. Jeremy looked up from his trucks to observe what was happening. 

“Jeremy, let's play hide and seek.” I talked calmly. I’m not calm. Jeremy ran into the garden. I watched his white shoes turn the corner before turning to Preston.

“You are amazing. You can’t say I’m good at everything because you saw everything I excel at. You have never seen me play football. I fucking suck. I’m horrible with animals. I get bit, scratched, pecked at, anything they can do to me. I can’t do a tourniquet. I’ve seen you do one in 20 seconds perfectly.” I explained. He stayed quiet and I stood holding my hand out.

“C’mon. He’s waiting for us.” I say smiling, He grabbed my hand and stood up.

“I’m sorry I yelled.” He said quietly. 

“It’s ok. I understand.” I say holding his hand. 

“Just know you are so cool. I enjoy watching you be in your nature.” I say referring to his experience with health. 

“Why?” He asked, looking around.

“Because you're so good at it. I’m sure you spent years learning how to stitch someone up like that.” I told him. He nodded and went on to explain.

“Yes. It took me months and multiple times stabbing someone to get the hang of it.” He chuckled. I smiled and let him tell me his stories. 

“Found you!” I yelled, interrupting him to find Jeremy hiding under a table. He came out giggling and running around.

“Your turn! Your turn!” He yelled running out of the garden to count. I smiled and took prestons hand to run to my favorite hiding spot. 

Right below a table there is a little cave in the walls of the garden. I made a little nest here. I went first and crawled in. I got comfortable before yelling at him to come in. He crawled in and turned around to put his back to my chest and lay on me. I wrapped my arms around him and laid my chin on his shoulder.

“Continue.” I say, requesting he tell me his tale. He shook his head and turned to me.

“Tell me about your childhood.” He asked me. I shrugged and shifted back.

“What do you want to know?” 

“What was your mother like?”

“She was beautiful. She was really nice too, she tried her best to be the best person she could be. Told us we should too. She named me and my siblings to spell out SAVE with our first names.” I said looking back at him.

“Who was the E?” He asked me. My smile faltered a little.

“ E was Emery. She was the youngest sister but she died along with my mother in childbirth.” I said. He cuddled deeper into me.

“Why are you really the leader?” He asked me.

“My brother was driving the car you were in. He felt so bad he drank and drank until he became a drunk and couldn’t execute any missions. I could, so I was the leader. For the sole purpose I could hold my stance when I’m broken.” I explained brushing my thumb against his. He smiled and turned to me.

“Is he still blaming himself?” He asked. I waited for a second before nodding.

“I blamed him too for a long time.” I confessed.

“Why?” He asked me.

“He wouldn’t let me drive. I was a better driver than he was and sober too but he wanted to be the one to save you and didn’t let his pride out of the way. I didn’t mind at the time as long as we got you out but he just wanted to show off to you.” I said annoyed again.

“Why?” That is all he says.

“Oh please. We’ve been fighting for you for years. At times you would go with him and other times you would go with me. We would never gloat to each other that we had your attention, we would just soak it up while we had the chance.” I told him. He nodded and We heard the tiny footsteps outside the cave.

“I want to talk to him.” He said looking out the cave. I didn’t want that.

“I won’t stop you.” I said despite my wishes. After everything he’s been through he doesn’t need a controlling boyfriend.

“Just be careful ok? He still wants to be inside your pants.” I said allowing him to leave. I got out of the cave and followed the tiny footsteps of the rocks on the floor. I saw him. 

“Hey Jeremy! Let’s go inside.” I said. He was holding someone’s hand. A large man came out from behind the corner. I have never seen this man before.

“Jeremy. Come here. Let’s go find your mother.” I said holding my hand out to him. Jeremy went to run to me but the man kept his hold on Jeremy. My gun is in my back pocket. I pulled it out. 

“Let him go.” I said. The man kept his stance but let go. Jeremy doesn’t come to me. He looks terrified. I go to him instead, keeping my gun pointed to him. Once I move around the corner I see tons of other men with guns pointed to me. I move to shield Jeremy to grab and run. My side was shot the second I moved. The guns kept shooting and I kept guarding. The taste of iron came up in my mouth. I Shot it out of my mouth only to see it was blood. My back is on fire. Everything hurts. My back leg has three holes in it. I saw Jeremy’s little arm have a hole in it as well. I held onto him before collapsing. The liquid in my back was slipping out of me. I hear the men running off and my paramedics and father run to me.

When I woke up, I was in a white room. A blue blanket was on my lap along with Preston’s hand. My brother was there too, smiling at him. The competition continues I see. I groaned and reached for water. My entire body stung the second I reached For the cup. I winced and Preston came to my side. He put the cup to my lips and allowed me to drink. 

“Thank you.” I said in a raspy voice. He blushed and nodded.

“How’s the kid?” I asked.