The Delivery Girl

60. Angry

Callen

Fuck.

As much as I love and admire Julie's compassion for others, this is not the fucking time to play hero. My heart hammers so hard I feel lightheaded and my ears ring as I watch one of my greatest fears playing out.

I can't lose her.

This can't be how it ends. Not here. Not after everything it took to get here.

"Julie!" I start to rush over, ignoring the possibly fatal danger. My instinct overrides all my logic. All I care about is keeping her safe.

Rob shouts something that I don't process.

And then–

This motherfucker turns and actually shoots.

The piercing noise cracks through the air. For a split second, I don't feel anything. Then searing heat rushes through my thigh and my leg buckles. It wasn't a clean hit, fortunately, but still enough to stop me. I grip onto the podium to keep myself up. The pain is hot and relentless, making it nearly impossible to focus.

"Callen!" Julie gasps and starts to move towards me.

"Julie no!" I shout through clenched teeth when I see Rob pointing his gun back at her. "Don't move."

She freezes.

"Stay still," the security officer mutters to me quietly. "He's a loose cannon."

Like I have a fucking choice.

"Julie, get out of the way," Rob warns. "This isn't about you."

"No. Ivan is my friend." She stands her ground. I want to be proud, but my god. This girl is going to be the end of me.

"I'm not afraid to hurt you," he says. "I'll do whatever to get to Ivan."

"Don't you dare fucking touch her," I snap.

Rob narrows his eyes at me. He's shaking even worse now. "You." The deranged look in his eyes reminds me of a rabid dog. "How could you do that? Offer him a job after what happened."

I force myself to straighten, even though my leg screams in protest. I can't show weakness. "I had no idea about the details. It wasn't my place to pry." I say. "All I saw was a man in pain. I did what I could to help."

I've always wondered whether Ivan remembered me from high school. We never spoke, but I heard things and saw him here and there. He had a good heart. I was devastated when I heard what had happened with his wife, someone like that deserves nothing but good things.

"Did you not read the notes? I gave you a chance. I warned you I'd take matters into my own hands if you didn't." His voice rises but quickly cracks.

I bite my tongue before I can point out how unclear and cryptic he had been in his notes. If Rob doesn't kill me, Julie surely will for being a smart ass.

"You were threatening them?" Ivan asks quietly, looking heartbroken. "Is that why you wanted to do the internship? You seemed so happy when you were accepted. I...I thought we were finally getting along."

Rob seems briefly caught off guard. A flicker of guilt as he's hit by Ivan's vulnerability.

I pause for a moment to see if he'll say anything. Nothing comes out besides some stuttering breaths.

"Look, Julie's right," I say, softer now. "I did the same thing myself. I kept secrets because I didn't want her to drown in my problems. It was because I loved her." I take one small, slow step towards the stage's stairs. "You can't blame Ivan for not knowing. Your mom was just doing what she thought was best."