I didn’t care what her friends thought I cared what Jade felt. Kissing her forehead, I hugged her to me and gazed over at my brother to see Derick smiling. It wasn’t a curse.
Chapter Eleven
Jade
The weekend had been great. I’d spent Friday night at Cassie’s with all the girls and Saturday at the beach. Stephan had joined us and he’d looked after me. It was becoming harder and harder not to fall for him. He was amazing and he put me first every time. We went to bed early Saturday night and I slept in his bed draped over him.
Sunday we had a lazy day. Well I did, reading and baking in the kitchen. Stephan had gone to the gym, probably to beat the crap out of his bodyguards, or for them to do it to him. I stayed away from the gym and the no go zone of the property.
Now it was Monday and I stood by our meeting place outside of the school waiting for Stephan. He was late. Usually he meets me on my way to our spot or was already waiting for me. I’d just told Cassie to go before her brother left without her. Bringing my bag around I got my phone out and checked to see if Stephan had called to tell me he was running late.
Glancing around, I saw Derick coming toward and me smiling. I moved away from the tree I leaned against and went to him. “Where is your brothe—” Before I’d finished my question gunfire rang out around me. “Get down,” Derick yelled.
A burning pain hit my good arm as I dove for the ground. Yelling and screaming all around me had me staying down and not daring to look. Derick’s body came and covered my own.
“Oh shit, fuck, you’re hit.” I heard Derick’s voice in the distance but my arm hurt and my cast arm felt like it had been cracked again. I felt like I was far away and filled with pain. I wanted to close my eyes, they were so heavy. The weight on me kept reminding me of the pain and I knew I shouldn’t close my eyes.
More shots sounded and cars and what sounded like motorbikes screeched away.
“Derick, get off her. We need to see if you have been hit.” I knew the voice. Who was it?
“Brand, I’m fine. Jade’s been hit. Oh shit, Brand, that’s a lot of blood.”
Ah, Brand, head security. I heard what sounded like ripping.
“Check her over, Derick, to see if she’s been shot anywhere else. David’s called the ambulance and the police. He and a team are waiting and the gates. Try not to move her too much, she’s been hit in an artery.”
Brand lifted my arm and tied a piece of cloth around me tight. I screamed as he tugged. Black surrounded my vision and then nothing.
*****
Stephan
I’d been talking to my business teacher about a makeup test for one I’d missed while away looking after Jade. We agreed I’d come in early tomorrow and he’d give me a do-over. Then I ran out of the room and down to the tree where I meet Jade. I could see the tree in the distance and Derick walking to Jade. I’d asked him to tell her where I was.
Everything happened so fast. A blue Ford car and three motorbikes drove up to the pickup zone, guns appeared and they shot at Derick and Jade. I watched with a sickening feeling as bullets flew by and Jade dropped to the ground. I crouched down and watched Derick crawl to Jade and cover her.
It was only minutes but felt like hours passed before Brand, David, Rex, and Royce showed up, shooting back at the car and motorbikes. They sped off and then the gates closed. I kept low the whole time and ran, ducking and dodging to get to Jade and Derick.
Brand made it before me and I arrived in time to see the once green grass covered in red. Jade screamed and I looked to see the bottom part of her covered in blood. Derick was checking her, running his hands gently up and down her now unconscious body.
Dropping to the ground, I stared at Derick. “Please. Please tell me she’s okay,” I choked out.
Derick grimaced and held his hands over her thigh. “Put pressure here. I need to check her other leg.”
I did as I was told in a haze of disbelief. Blood oozed onto my fingers and I moved so my palm pressed down slowing the flow of blood. Derick ran his fingers over her other half.
“What do we have?”
I didn’t look up at the paramedic.
“Seventeen year old female. Shot to arm that hit artery. I’ve cut the flow with the bandage but she needs care. Stephan is holding what I think may be a graze or a through and through shot. The cast has cracked and she passed out a couple of minutes ago.”
“Son, I need you to move now.”
I pressed down on Jade’s wound too scared to move.
“You can let go now.”
I couldn’t move. I heard the voice, but was terrified to move my blood soaked hand.
“Stephan, the paramedic needs to work now.”