The sound of the gunshot alerted the cops and they all rushed into the room with their guns out. Damian was disarmed and handcuffed while some men went to Jack’s side. Harry untied Jack and he got up, feeling the soreness of his hands.
Karen laid on the floor, weak and almost passing out. The bullet had caught her arm and it was now bleeding. If not for the timely push Jack had pushed her, maybe it would have hit her chest.
Jack rushed to her side and tried to lift her up. The muscles in his body failed him, making him almost fall forward. Harry rushed to his aid, and together, they helped Karen to the car. Jack tore a piece of his clothing to tie Karen’s wond while Harry drove to the hospital.
They arrived at the hospital thirty minutes later. Karen had been alternating between consciousness and unconsciousness. Karen was rushed into the operation theatre while Jack was admitted into a room.
After twenty minutes, the bullet was taken out of her arm, and she was left under anesthesia to recover.
“I want to see Karen.” Jack screamed at the doctor immediately his wounds had been treated.
“She is unconscious now, but you can still see her if you want to.” the doctor replied. The doctor led Jack to Karen’s room. She was dressed in the hospital’s gown with a drip connected to her arm. Her eyes were closed tightly and her lips looked pale. He walked to the side of her bed and placed his hand on her face, caressing it.
“Thank you for saving me, Karen.” he muttered before placing a kiss on her forehead. He walks out of the room to meet Harry seated in the lobby.
“Where is Jayden?” Jack asked.
“He is with Ciara. They are at my home.” Harry replied with a hand on his shoulder.
“Tell the inspector I’ll come in to the station tomorrow. I need to get a rest.” Jack stated before walking out of the hospital.
He walked into his house, feeling weakened by the entire incident. He had just survived getting killed, and now, Karen laid in the hospital, unconscious. He walked into the bathroom and turned up the water in the bathtub. He increased the temperature of the water to warm before stripping and going inside the tub. His muscles relaxed under the water as he closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the water against his flesh. This was the first time he was having a bath in four days. After spending twenty minutes in the bathtub, he stepped out, feeling refreshed. He creamed himself changed into a baggy trouser and a t-shirt, grabbed an energy drink from his refrigerator before stepping out.
***
“Did She follow up the address you sent?” Roy asked one of his men.
“Yes sir. Jack was rescued, but Karen caught a bullet and she is in the hospital as we speak.” he replied.
Roy nodded. He felt pleased with himself. He had saved Jack from getting murdered, and finally, Damian was in the hands of the cops. He knew it might spell doom for him, but he was always one step ahead.
“And Damian?” he questioned.
“The cops have him.”
“Keep an eye on him. I need every information of what he does or says.” he ordered and the man nodded.
_
Jack drove back to the hospital. Karen was yet to wake up. He took a seat in her hospital room and watched her sleep. Her beautiful frame laid static on the bed but he was grateful for the fact that she was still alive. Ciara walked into the hospital room some minutes later. She handed Jayden to him, dropped a flower beside Karen’s bed before standing in front of her.
“You are a strong lady, you will surely get out of this.” she muttered. A tear dropped down her cheeks and she wiped it with the back of her hand before stepping backwards. She turned to Jack and smiled at him, “I will be outside, in case you need anything.”
“Thank you.” Jack responded and she nodded before walking out. Jack turned to Jayden with a big smile “Hey, big man!”
“Hey, dad.” Jayden responded with a smile. He had Karen’s smile and his eyes.
“That is your mom over there on the bed,” Jack pointed at Karen who was sleeping on the bed. “She saved my life today.”
The anaesthesia finally wore out, and Karen opened her eyes an hour later. She closed and opened her eyes again, trying to adjust to the brightness of the room. She looked around the room weakly. The walls were painted white and there were some machines beeping in the background. A tube was connected to her hand and it took her a few minutes to realize where she was. She was in the hospital!
She tried to recall the events that led to this before it all came rushing back. Damian had abducted Jack and she had tried to save him, only to be hit by a bullet from Damian.
“Hey! You are awake.” She looked up and was staring directly into Jack’s face. He offered her a kind smile and she tried to smile back but only felt pain. Jack noticed the uncomfortable look on her face and continued. “The doctor had taken out the bullet from your arm, so you are going to be okay.”
He helped her sit up on the bed. She stared at him the whole time while she had seen a ghost. “Are you okay?” she muttered. Her voice was low and weak.
“I’m okay. Thank you for saving my life,” they stare at each other before he pulled her into a hug. “You have a visitor.”
Jack carried the sleeping Jayden to her on the bed. He had fallen asleep while waiting with Jack. She smiled as she saw her visitor.
“Thank you.” she muttered.
Karen recovered quickly and was discharged from the hospital after two days. Her gun shot injury was healing quickly though it was now bandaged.
She drove with her son to the airport. She had her luggage by her side as she waited to meet with Jack for the last time before boarding her flight. It’s been about a month since the whole gunshot incident occurred and she had recovered fully. She peered into her watch again. She had fifteen minutes until her flight and Jack was supposed to be here anytime soon.
The sound of a car sounded behind her and she turned to see Damian coming out of his car.
“Why did you call me to meet you at the airport, and what are you doing with two boxes?” Jack questioned as his eyes scanned her appearance. He had received her call to meet her at the airport less than thirty minutes ago. Realization dawned, as sir got knocked out of him “You are travelling again? He managed to ask.
“Yes,” she nodded.
“Fuck!” he yelled. “Why are you doing this, Karen? Everything is going to be okay. We have already gotten our lives back. Why are you doing this?”
“I need to get my life back, Jack. I need to go to where I would be free from all these.” she answered.
“And what about me?” she remained mute at the question and re ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that.” she answered.
He took her hands in his’ “Promise me you’ll come back.”
“I will, but I don’t know when. It might take a year, two or even five. Please, don’t wait for me.” she replied.
“I will.”