Chapter 24: You’re going to hate me.

Cassian comes straight toward me and he grabs my arm.

"I told you it isn’t safe here. Let’s go."

I stare at him.

"Cassian, you’re..."

My eyes drop to his shirt.

"You’re bleeding."

"It’s nothing. Let’s go."

He says it so casually that for a second, I almost believe him.

But I see the blood. There is a dark stain spreading across the side of his shirt, soaking through the fabric.

My stomach twists.

"Oh my God."

I step closer.

"You got shot!"

Olivia immediately rushes toward him.

"Cass!"

She reaches for his shoulder and presses her hand firmly against the wound.

Cassian hisses through his teeth.

"I’m fine."

"You’re bleeding everywhere!"

"Olivia, I’m fine."

"You’re not fine!"

He looks at me instead.

"Keys."

"What?"

His good hand reaches into his pocket and he pulls out the car keys and throws them at me.

I barely catch them.

"Come on. Let’s go."

I don’t argue this time. I turn and head straight toward the car parked not too far from the entrance.

The entire place has descended into chaos.

Men are shouting, security is moving around with guns drawn, people are being pushed away from the entrance and somewhere behind us, I know Lysander is still there.

For some reason, I glance back, he’s standing near the entrance, talking to some of his men but hs eyes find mine.

Even from this distance, I can see the warning in them.

Stay or maybe it is exactly the opposite.

Go.

I don’t stop to figure it out, I get into the driver’s seat and start the engine.

Olivia helps Cassian into the back seat before climbing in beside him.

The moment I’m sure they’re both inside, I step on the accelerator, the tires screech against the road and I grip the steering wheel tightly.

"Where are we going?"

"Hospital," Olivia answers immediately.

I glance at her through the mirror. Cassian is leaning back against the seat, his face noticeably paler than before.

"No."

Olivia looks at me.

"What do you mean, no?"

"We can’t go to the hospital."

"He’s been shot, Nerissa!"

"I know!"

"Then drive to the hospital!"

"No."

I look at her through the mirror.

"Too many questions will be asked."

She goes quiet.

I continue driving.

"They’ll want to know where he was shot. Who shot him. Why he was there. They’ll call the police. They’ll start digging."

Cassian lets out a quiet breath.

"She’s right."

Olivia looks at him like she wants to strangle him.

"You’ve been shot and you’re agreeing with her?"

"I don’t particularly feel like explaining my evening to the police."

"Jesus Christ."

I take the next turn.

"Let’s go to my house."

Olivia frowns.

"Why?"

"My first aid kit is well equipped."

She looks at Cassian’s wound again.

"He needs a freaking doctor."

"I know."

"Then why are we going home?"

"Because until we know what the hell just happened back there, I don’t trust anyone."

That shuts her up.

For a few seconds, the only sound inside the car is the engine and Cassian’s breathing.

Then I look at him through the mirror.

"Did the bullet pass through?"

He doesn’t answer immediately.

"Cass?"

"It doesn’t feel like it."

Olivia carefully moves her hand away from the wound for a second.

She looks and her face falls.

"Looks like it’s stuck in."

I grip the steering wheel tighter.

Fuck.

Looks like I have to dig a bullet out of another person’s body.

Again.

My eyes flick toward the mirror to find Cassian watching me.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You made a face."

"I didn’t."

"You definitely did."

"I’m just trying to concentrate."

Olivia presses her hand back against the wound.

"Cas, how do you feel?"

"Fine."

"Are you dizzy?"

"No."

"Light-headed?"

"No."

"You’re losing quite a bit of blood."

He sighs.

"Oh, please."

Olivia’s eyes narrow.

"What?"

"I’ve been shot a lot of times throughout my life. I’ll be fine."

I stare at him through the mirror.

"You say that like it’s supposed to make me feel better."

"It should."

"It doesn’t."

A faint smile pulls at the corner of his mouth.

"Then that’s your problem."

I shake my head.

"You’re unbelievable."

"And you’re driving too fast."

"You’re bleeding in my back seat."

"I noticed."

"So shut up."

He actually laughs.

It’s quiet and weak, but it’s still a laugh.

Then his head falls back against the seat and the smile disappears from my face. Because suddenly, I realize something.

Cassian may be pretending to be fine but he’s getting paler by the second and if I don’t get him home soon, this might become a lot worse than a bullet stuck in his shoulder.

The moment we pull into the driveway, I don’t even bother turning the engine off properly.

I jump out.

"Come on."

Olivia is already opening Cassian’s door.

"Easy."

"I can walk," Cassian mutters.

"Then walk."

He steps out, pressing his good hand against his shoulder.

The blood has spread even farther across his shirt.

I swallow hard.

"Jesus."

"Stop staring at it," Cassian says.

"I’m trying not to."

We get him inside.

Olivia immediately leads him toward the living room, but I stop her.

"No. Upstairs."

"Why?"

"Because I need a proper surface to work on him."

She nods.

We help Cassian upstairs and get him into my room.

I point at the bed.

"Sit."

Cassian sits.

I rush into the bathroom and grab the first aid kit.

Then another one and another.

I dump everything onto the bed, everything I might need.

Olivia stares at the collection.

"You actually have all this?"

"I told you. I’m prepared."

"For what? A war?"

I look at her.

"We’re Lucianos."

She doesn’t argue.

I cut through Cassian’s shirt.

The fabric separates easily, revealing the wound beneath.

Olivia sucks in a breath.

I don’t.

I can’t afford to.

The bullet has entered high in his shoulder. There is a lot of blood, but the bleeding has slowed.

That’s good....Very good.

I put on my gloves.

"Cassian."

"Hmm?"

"You’re going to hate me."

He looks at me.

"Why?"

"Because this is going to hurt."