Ever growing 2

Chapter 49

My heart stops.

He shot Ryan.

I scream at Jake telling him to let me get to Ryan. I claw at him, squirming under his hold, try to bite him. His hand in my hair is threatening to rip my scalp off but I couldn't care less, I keep on fighting until my brain starts to shut down. I feel myself collapsing to the couch, a worried Jake lets go of me. I stare blankly into space. "I killed him!" I keep thinking. My heart is bleeding, my breath nowhere to be found as I feel my throat closing. I replay the image of him falling backward from the shot in a loop, his eyes looking into mine.

Slowly my brain sinks into an abyss knowing I'll never see Ryan again, never get to touch him or hold him. Never will I be able to kiss him, feel his love, be happy, breathe, live. "I will meet you in heaven soon, babe." I mentally promise him. I hear a lot of screaming around me but it sounds so far away from where I'm hiding, I don't pay attention. I'm vaguely aware that I'm rocking myself back and forth with my arms holding my body. I feel physical pain as my heart shatters into a million pieces. Time has stopped and I'm lost not wanting to face a new world without Ryan.

There's chaos around me but I'm too far gone to give a damn about what's going on. I'm dancing with darkness planning my next move to get to where Ryan is. I know I'll have to escape the state I'm in right now to succeed in my mission but the noise is still too loud. I just keep my eyes closed as I rock myself and now hum some melody in an attempt to forget about the mess around me.

"Ella?" His voice echoes in my mind.

I take a deep breath allowing my lips to curl up. I've missed his voice already. It sounds like velvet to my ear, well mind because I'm hallucinating.

"Baby, please!"

I can now feel his arms on me shaking gently. I feel the electricity coursing through my veins just like it always did when he was near me.

"Ella, come on, baby, come back," The accented voice is right in my ear.

Instinctively, I reach for him and open my eyes. Tears run down my cheeks blurring my vision but I see him. He's sitting next to me, my body is turned to him, his hands on my shoulders.

"Ryan?" I'm confused. My brain is trying to comprehend what I'm seeing considering what happened.

"Yes, Ella, I was acting, I'm not dead." He stares into my eyes as he says the words slowly making sure I understand them.

I finally look around to see Max and Cooper standing nearby. I also see cops walking around the apartment. What happened?

"I think you're in shock, baby. I'm so sorry! I'm wearing a bulletproof vest." he brings my hand under his shirt. "When I saw him point the gun, I knew I had to pretend I was..." I put my fingers on his lips to silence him before he says the word. His lips kiss my fingers softly. "Where's Jake? How?" I'm still confused. "They came in once they heard the gunshot. Thankfully he had put his gun on the floor because he was trying to get you to follow him but you just sat there. You scared me when you wouldn't answer me." He says taking my hand into his. "I heard your voice but I thought I was dreaming. Until you touched me, I felt it radiating through me," I smile and he hugs me tightly. I breathe in his scent, his touch fixing the heartache I felt a moment ago. He's here with me.

I'm holding onto Ryan trying to process everything that just happened feeling grateful that he didn't get hurt. Although I don't want to leave his arms, I don't want to be here anymore.

"Can we leave?" I ask softly. He loosens his hold to look at one of the detectives, asking him if we are still needed here. We're told they need to interview us after paramedics check on Ryan. They ask me if I got hurt I simply nod unable to say what happened out loud. We're taken to the hospital where we both see doctors separately. I can tell Ryan wants to ask questions but he knows now is not the time.

We're then told by the detectives that they're taking us for interviews. We ride together with them to the station holding hands as he draws circles on my skin with his thumb. My head is resting on his shoulder feeling safe. We're then asked to go into separate rooms, my anxiety comes back suddenly. He feels it.

"Ella, don't worry, talk to them and I will see you after. I'm here I'm not going anywhere, baby." I nod before following the cop.