NERTHUS
It takes my lungs a few seconds to fill with enough air to push out a horrified scream.
But it actually feels like it takes an eternity.
Lizzy looks at us with a blank look before she sinks to the floor, collapsing in her own pool of blood.
Arawn steps towards her with his gun still pointed and picks her gun up.
“Are you alright?” he asks in our direction as he pushes the gun into the belt in the back of his pants.
Danny nods, exhaling a deep breath, and I loop my arm around his, hugging him closer. “Let’s sit down. Shall we?”
He slumps to the ground nearly immediately, tearing me with him. Nodding once again, he lets his shoulders slump and I turn my head to watch Arawn crouch down before me.
Cupping my chin gently, he turns my head to inspect my face. “The ambulance is already on its way. I called Detective Ramirez. Are you feeling well enough to wait for them? Or shall I drive you to the ER?”
“I’m fine,” I say, my voice nearly failing me as sobs rise in my throat. My eyes well up in tears, as I have never been so thankful to see his grumpy face. “I’m perfectly fine now.”
He scans my face, not taking my word for granted. “What happened to your arm?”
“She dislocated her shoulder to free herself and save me,” Danny whispers, his gaze directed into the void.
Arawn’s eyes widen as he stares at Danny before moving his gaze to me. “Are you insane?”
“He would have died otherwise!” I sulk, watching Arawn grit his teeth.
The door slams open, Aleksei steps into it and looks at Danny with lifted brows. “What’s all that blood, boy?”
“Crazy art,” he responds with a tired smile, making Aleksei scoff.
“The building is cleared, boss.” Shaking his head he turns to walk back out. “You Americans are out of mind.”
I fill my lungs with a deep breath, flinching as Danny sways. I hold up my arm but Arawn is faster, catching him as he falls to the side. “Got him.”
Exhaling relieved, I put my hand on my chest. “How did you find us?”
“One of my men got a hint of a mercenary. It seemed like he had a woman and a boy in his power and wanted to know if we would want the boy as he didn’t seem to be needed by the purchaser,” he explains, making me close my eyes.
“I can’t believe this,” I breathe out.
Arawn lifts his gaze to the door, before slipping off his jacket and throwing it over my shoulders. “I would love to carry you, but I guess our boy is definitely out.”
“Don’t worry about me,” I say, smiling at him encouragingly. “I have so much adrenaline still streaming through me that it will be alright.”
Wrapping his arms around Danny, he lifts him in his arms and by holding him with one arm, he helps me up on my feet. “Can you walk until we reach one of my men securing the building? As soon as I can give them Danny, I can carry you.”
“It’s okay, really. I can walk alright.” I say, pulling his jacket to wrap me in the cozy and heavenly-smelling fabric.
As soon as we reach someone standing in the hallway, he gives him Danny to carry down to the ambulances.
“No, wait!” I say, suddenly feeling panicky without a reason. “He will surely want you to carry him. I can walk. It’s okay, I swear!”
He simply clicks his tongue, grabbing me to lift me in his arms. “I know that you can. But please let me.”
The coldness I was feeling leaves my body as soon as my feet are disconnected from the freezing ground, and I snuggle myself automatically into his warm embrace.
“I need that too,” he murmurs, barely audible, making my heart race.
As we exit the shabby building, we are welcomed by police officers scurrying around and flashing lights.
“I want to ride with Danny,” I say, clawing onto his shirt as he is about to carry me to another ambulance.
“No,” he growls. “Don’t worry. Elia is riding with him. I need someone to take a look at you. You will see him at the hospital.”
Sighing, I lay back down in his arms.
“Good girl,” he says with a chuckle before he lets go of me to lay me onto a stretcher like a paramedic is instructing him.
I decide to just gulp my tantrum down as I see how worried he is. Observing how he listens to the paramedic telling him what he found and what is going to happen next must be the most beautiful and equally the most heartbreaking thing I have ever seen.
I know that I’m going to be fine as I had it worse already. I’m just happy that Danny will be alright as well.
My heart breaks as they tell him they have to check me up without him present but that he will be able to see me soon. He looks like a puppy left in the rain as he has to just accept it and they get him a second to say goodbye to me.
“You don’t need to say goodbye, big boy,” I chuckle lowly as he leans over my stretcher. “They are just doing some tests, and click in my shoulder back in. Stop worrying so much please.”
He doesn’t say anything, but his expression is screaming everything to me as he leans in, kissing my lips before detaching himself from me.
“I love you,” I say, sighing, and he smiles, taking a step back to enable the hospital staff to push me away.
Even if he didn’t say it back, his smile says it all and I’m glad I get to see it for as long as possible before we turn a corner into the intensive care wing of the hospital.
***
I wake up to a light snoring.
My cheeks hurt as a big smile spreads on my lips as I see Danny lying in the hospital bed next to me.
“You are awake,” Arawn’s deep voice reaches me, making my head turn towards him.
He is sitting in an armchair next to the windows, looking exhausted. His hair is disheveled but he looks content.
I smile as I snuggle myself back in, careful to not crush my bandaged arm. “How are you feeling?”
“How are you asking me if you are the one lying in a hospital bed?” he chuckles.
Spreading my arm, I open and close my hand repeatedly, getting him to stand up. He steps to my bed and I lift my blanket to get him to lie down next to me. I giggle as he obviously does not fit into the small bed, and he pulls me closer with a groan. “The happier one is, the more bad things happen.”
He laughs, kissing my temple. “You are way too pessimistic. I think bad things have happened to you before and you weren’t happy.”
“True,” I sigh, cuddling against his chest.
I breathe in his cologne, sighing happily as I feel protected in his arms. Hopefully, we will get to live a bit more peacefully, but when I look at our lives that would be awfully strange.
“Oh, my God,” I jerk up, making him look at me with furrowed brows. “Goldie!”
Arawn chuckles, pushing me back against his chest, wanting to calm me down. “He is taken care of by Maria and her family. Apparently, Mary was excited about looking after the puppy.”
“Oh, she is so cute,” I giggle lowly, relaxing in his hold.
Kissing the top of my head, he caresses my back. “She is.”
I close my eyes, enjoying the comfortable cuddles as I hear rustling from behind me.
“Eeew,” Danny says still sleep drunken. “Get your own room.”
We laugh, and Arawn hugs me closer. “You have to watch your tongue, young man. Or I’ll have you kicked out to the streets.”
“You can’t do that! I’m your brother!” he retorts theatrically.
They continue to bicker playfully while I bury my face into Arawn’s shirt. I have to remind myself to breathe while they make me crack up over and over again.
My belly and arm hurt but I don’t care.
The happier we are, the more it is worth suffering for.