His eyes started to roll back, so I yanked at his hand. “Listen to me, you little shit. You’re not going anywhere, except to the hospital. You have too many people who care about you. Don’t you dare give up.”
Dean smiled. “You care about me, Jimmy? I always thought you fancied me.”
I laughed. “Don’t fucking get too big a head. You’re not that good-looking.”
I looked up at one of the officers and he nodded at me. “Ambulance is on its way.”
I nodded back and looked at the ice pick still in Dean’s chest. I daren’t take it out just in case, but he needed to be seen by a doctor.
Loud banging was suddenly heard from the door on the far side of the room. Soon, it swung open and more police officers ran through. I was glad there was another exit out of here because it meant getting Dean out was going to be a little easier.
I gripped his hand. “Hang in there, man. Help is almost here.”
“How bad does it look?” His breathing was getting more and more ragged.
“I’ve seen you look better, Dean, but you’re fine. You’ll heal in no time.”
Dean moved his head from side-to-side, his eyes becoming more and more unfocused. “Tell grown-up that his dad loves him and he needs to look after his mum.”
I shook my head. “You can tell him that yourself, you little prick. Dean, for fuck’s sake, don’t you dare fucking die on me.”
His breath wheezed a little more. “Tell Tyler I love her, and that I’m sorry.”
“Fuck! Don’t you do this to me, Dean. Don’t make me say this. You need to stay alive and tell them yourself. Live, for fuck’s sake. Just live.”
He struggled for breath, then looked me in the eye. “Thanks, pansy.” He smiled and closed his eyes.
“No, no, no, no! Dean!” I looked up. “Where’s the fucking ambulance?”
A police officer ran in. “They’re coming now.”
I looked back at Dean and squeezed his hand one more time. “You listen here, fuck face. You didn’t come all this way to let Tyler back into your heart, only for you to give up. You have a son now. You have to live for him. You have to see him grow up. If you don’t do as I tell you, I will personally kill you myself.”
I knew it was the wrong thing to say, but I was angry. I hated that so much work had gone into him finding the one he loved, only to have it ripped away from them both. Again.
Two paramedics came rushing in, carrying a stretcher. I released Dean’s hand and let them get to work. They maneuvered him onto the stretcher and hooked up an IV. They took his blood pressure, which I saw was very low. He had a weak pulse, but at least it was still there.
“We have to get him to the hospital. We have no idea how close his injury is to any main arteries. He’s lost a lot of blood.”
The police officer nodded at the paramedic. “Where are you taking him?”
The paramedics lifted the stretcher and began carrying him out. “Hampton Hospital.”
I recognized the name because it was where Tara worked. Shit. What was I going to tell them back at the house? Tyler must be going out of her fucking mind by now.
A tap on my shoulder made me spin around. It was Officer Shaw. “We need to take your statement.”
I nodded. “I’ll give you everything you need, but I need to get to the hospital and contact Dean’s girlfriend.”
Shaw smiled, nodding, and we all made our way out of the area. I noticed that the ambulance was gone and four of Pinzano’s men were still alive.
Rubbing my face with both hands, I looked up to find Shaw staring at me. “You can follow me. There’s only one place I want to be right now.”
“That’s fine. You’re not under arrest, but we do still need to take your statement.”
I nodded and got inside my car. Before starting it up, I took my phone out of my pocket and brought up Tyler’s number. I stared at it for a moment, unable to move. What was I going to tell her? What could I possibly say to her that would make what happened any easier? Her world was about to come crashing down yet again, and I was going to be one to cause it. I hated giving bad news. I hated being the one to make someone’s heart break in two, but I had to. He wasn’t as invincible as we all thought him to be. Tyler had to know that Dean was very seriously hurt.
And, this time, he might not make it out alive.
Chapter 21
Tyler
When I got that phone call from Jimmy, I thought my world had come to an end. Yes, I had been mad as hell at Dean for bringing the one thing to my door that I had always been running away from. But he made a promise to save Jeremy, and he had kept his promise. And now that I was faced with possibly losing Dean, there was only one thing I could do.