Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(93)

“You’re welcome. I’m not sure how much I helped though.” I offer him a weak smile.

“You helped,” he pats me on the leg, and rounds the corner into my apartment complex. “What the f*ck?” he yells when we both see numerous cop cars surrounding my apartment. He swings into a parking spot a building over from mine.

“Stay in the car. Do not get out under any circumstances. Got it?”

“Yeah, okay,” I nervously respond.

Caleb gets out and walks over to a police officer, and out of curiosity I roll down my window to see if I can hear their conversation. The minute my window cracks barely even an inch, I hear the scary sound of Brett screaming Sarah’s name and glass shattering. At that moment there isn’t a lock in the world that could have kept me contained in the truck. I sling the door open, and take off running toward my apartment. Towards Brett.

I’m trying to keep it together as I race down the sidewalk with Caleb chasing behind me. I have no idea what’s going on, or what I’m going to find when I get there, but the strain of fear in Brett’s voice is more than enough to keep me moving in his direction. Just as I get close enough see my door, I hear the unmistakable sound of a gunshot. I instinctively freeze, allowing Caleb just enough time to catch up.

As I stand there, the whole world seems to be frozen too. I know there are a million things going on around me, but all I can see is Brett stumble back from my door before falling to the ground. It painfully steals my breath, and for a split second, I’m not completely sure it wasn’t me who caught the bullet. But the pain that rips through my chest as I watch the man I love fall to the ground is far worse than any gun could ever cause.




Brett

“BRETT!” I hear Jesse’s strangled scream.

I can’t figure out where it comes from, but I know I’m going to find out. Hope swells in my chest that she’s still alive, and I jump to my feet ready to climb through that impossibly small side window to get to her.

“Brett!” I hear her terror-filled scream again.

This time her voice clearly comes from the parking lot. I glance to my left and see Jesse standing on the sidewalk trying to fight her way out of Caleb’s restraining arms.

I’m not too much of a man to admit that tears of relief immediately flood my eyes. My knees go weak as I stand and stumble in her direction. If I didn’t need them to get to her, I have no doubt they would buckle completely under my weight. I don’t know how she is standing there unharmed, but it is the most spectacularly beautiful sight I have ever seen. Tears may be running down her cheeks and her wide eyes are full of fear, but the way she looks at this moment could never be topped.

My life just began again.

I jog over to her as she launches herself into my arms. “Oh my God, Brett! Are you okay?”

“I’m better than okay, gorgeous.” I bury my face in her neck as the last few tears escape my eyes.

“What the hell is going on?” she asks, never releasing me.

“Jesus, I thought you were in there. Jesse, f*ck. I thought…” I trail off trying to get my emotions in check.

“I was with Caleb. We were at Manda’s grave.” I pull my head back to see Caleb standing with his arms crossed over his chest, wearing a pissed-off expression, but there is no mistaking the lingering redness in his eyes.

“I’ve been calling you for hours,” I say to him.

“Our phones were in the car. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” I say without hesitation.

“I had no idea, or you know I would have been here.”

“I don’t care about any of that. Thank you for taking her with you. I owe you for this,” I laugh, squeezing Jesse tight enough to make her wince.

“Brett, you’re bleeding!” She wiggles out of my grasp, and backs up to examine my arm.

“Gorgeous, I’m fine. It’s just a cut from the broken glass.”

“Are you sure it’s not a bullet?” she says as the worry creeps back across her face.

“I’m positive. See,” I roll up my sleeves, showing off a pretty nasty slice across my forearm, “I’m okay. I’ll get it looked at tomorrow.” I look up to find Kara has joined us. She’s tucked under Caleb’s arm and reaching forward holding one of Jesse’s hands.

“Excuse me, Sharp?” Eli walks up behind me. “I’m really happy you found Jesse, but Sarah is still asking for you. The door is open now, but she still has the gun.”

“Fuck her,” I say without an ounce of guilt. She may not have had Jesse in there with her, but I’m positive that was the point of her breaking in today.

“Brett! You don’t mean that,” Jesse scolds.

“Yes, I do. I just spent the last few hours thinking you were either dead or dying. Jesse, I can’t do this anymore. She broke into your home…with a gun. Who the hell knows what would have happened if you had been there.”

“I wasn’t in there Brett. I was never in any danger. You can’t hold it against her that you were scared.”

“Yes, I f*cking can. She could have told me you weren’t in there. She could have not shot at me. She could have had a discussion like a normal rational person that didn’t involve a gun and breaking and entering.”