Run To Me (Lazarus Rising #4)(4)

She and Jay were on the red carpet. A long, thick, red carpet that led through the throng of reporters. She could see the limo waiting up ahead. Less than ten feet away now. She could make it to the vehicle. No problem. The circus was almost over. Willow pasted a smile on her face.

“Kiss her!” A voice shouted.

Her gaze jerked toward that voice. She found a man in a big, thick, gray coat grinning at her. He had a whole film crew with him.

“Let’s get a video,” the guy called. “Viewers will love this shit!”

Her attention snapped back to Jay. He’d paused on the carpet, making her stop, too.

But he shook his head. “She isn’t for your viewers.” He smiled at Willow, and it was such a tender, warm smile.

More cameras flashed.

“She’s only for me,” he added.

Her chest ached again. If only he meant those words.

Then they were walking once more. She was smiling, only the smile felt easier now. Almost real. Jay was warm and strong beside her. His body moved protectively with hers. For just a moment, she could almost imagine what it would be like to really be his date. To be the focus of his intense attention.

To kiss him.

To make love with him.

The driver was holding open the back door to the limo.

She bent, preparing to go in first but…

Willow glanced back.

Jay had turned to respond to a reporter. He was answering some question about a new security feature he was adding for his users, and she heard…

A sharp crack. The thunder of gunfire.

The questions stopped. The screams began.

And Willow found herself in Jay’s arms. She didn’t remember lunging toward him. Didn’t remember grabbing him, but his arms were around her, and he was staring down at her in absolute horror.

She tried to smile. He’d said that she needed to smile for the cameras. The cameras were flashing. People were screaming, but cameras were still on her and Jay. Still watching.

“Baby, baby, you’re bleeding.” Jay’s voice was shaking. Emotion blazed in his eyes as he held her tightly. He surged toward the limo, shoving them into the back of the vehicle. “Get the fucking car moving! Get us to the nearest ER!”

She distantly heard a door slam. Had the limo driver done that? He shouldn’t be walking around outside. Someone was shooting out there.

“Willow.”

Jay’s voice snapped her attention up to his face even as she felt the limo lurch forward. Tires squealed.

“Baby, you’re bleeding badly.”

She realized he was pressing down on her chest. Odd, she didn’t feel his touch. Or any pain. She barely seemed to feel anything at all. “Sh-shot…”

“Yeah, you were shot.” For an instant, she could have sworn that he looked afraid. “But I’m going to get you to a hospital. You’re going to be all right.”

She wasn’t so sure of that. “Can’t…hospital…” Her words were softer. Talking was an effort. But she couldn’t go to a hospital. The doctors would realize how different she was. “H-home…” He just had to take her home. “Heal…” Jay knew she’d heal. He understood about her differences.

“Look at me.” His voice was a fierce demand. “Look at me, Willow.”

Her lashes lifted. She hadn’t realized her eyes had closed.

“I think the bullet…God, there is so much damn blood! I think it nicked your heart. Or got an artery or—shit, I’m not a doctor, I don’t know! I just—it’s bad. Very bad and you—”

Her lashes closed again. She couldn’t make them stay open.

And she also couldn’t hear Jay. Not any longer. That was strange. Her senses were so strong. She should be able to hear him.

But…

There was just nothing.

***

“Willow?” Jay pressed his hands down harder on her chest. He could feel her blood on his fingers. Willow’s blood.

She didn’t react. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe?

His right hand flew up and pressed to her throat. The limo was bouncing and flying down the road, weaving and jerking to the left, then to the right. His fingers shook as he searched for her pulse.

A pulse she didn’t have.

No. Fuck, no.

This shouldn’t have happened. The goal had been to attract attention. To get eyes on Willow. Not to get her hurt.

The limo screeched to a stop. He heard the slam of a door. Jay knew the limo driver was rushing back to help him.

Jay’s fingers were still on Willow’s throat.

The door opened. The interior lights immediately came on, illuminating everything with a soft, warm glow. Illuminating Willow’s beautiful face. Her small nose, her delicate jaw. The heavy, dark mass of her hair.

The blood on her neck. Blood that had come from his fingers.

“We’re at the hospital,” the driver managed to choke out between quick pants of breath. “Let’s get her inside, let’s—”

“We don’t need the hospital.” He had to play this scene carefully. When she’d been hit, he’d freaked the fuck out for a moment. He’d just seen her blood. He’d felt her go limp. And he’d lost his mind. Jay cleared his throat. He moved to Willow’s side, and he pulled her into his lap.