Danger Zone

17. Loss

Chapter seventeen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Dante's P.O.V.*

It all happened in slow motion.

I was about to ask Joseph if he was alright, but then the gunshot sounded from behind me. I tensed, waiting for the pain to come, but it never did.

And then I heard the body hit the floor.

Joseph quickly got over his shock from shooting the young boy and shot above me, successfully taking out the sniper that was attempting to take me out.

I turned around and felt a pain like no other engulf me as I saw Thalia lying on the ground clutching the gunshot wound right below her rib, her breathing shallow.

"Fuck! Thalia baby can you hear me?" I cried, instantly dropping to my knees and cradling her head in my hands. I tore my shirt off and applied it to the wound to slow the bleeding, but it wouldn't stop. It seemed like she was losing pints by the second.

"It hurts," she whimpered, tears streaming down her beautiful face and mixing with the dried blood. Seeing her hurt was a physical pain for myself, I would've done anything in that moment to make the pain go away.

Joseph turned around and began vomiting.

"We got all of his men and disarmed them, but Alfonso managed to get away," I heard James explain from behind me before he took in the situation. "Fuck, tell the paramedics to come straight back here when they arrive!" He yelled to a SWAT team member before running and kneeling next to me. The guy nodded and ran out of the room.

I couldn't even remember a time in my life when I'd been more scared.

"Stay with me cara mia," I begged as her eyes began to flutter shut. It seemed like it took everything in her to open them again. Her breathing was becoming weaker and weaker, and her skin was becoming pale.

"I can't," she whispered, clutching my hand that was holding the now soaked shirt to her wound.

"Thalia I need you to stay awake," James interjected. "The paramedics are almost here."

She groaned weakly and nodded, squeezing my hand tightly.

"I'm sorry for running away last night," she murmured.

"No no, don't apologize for that. That doesn't matter, nothing matters right now except making sure you're alright," I said honestly.

She began to cough, "I was..so stupid."

"Not stupid, just jealous," I smiled through my tears, trying to convince her and myself that everything would be fine.

Her light laugh became a series of coughs before her eyes began to shut again. I heard the sirens approaching at that moment.

"Thalia love, help is here. I need you to fight for me, just a few more minutes," I pleaded, clutching her to me.

She didn't respond.

The paramedics ran into the room with a stretcher.

"Sir we need you to move," one of the men instructed.

I was terrified to let her go.