Withstanding Me(18)

“For what it’s worth, my dad’s an idiot.”

“Thanks Tatiana,” I force out with a smile.

“So final dress fittings are tomorrow and—.”

Bullets pinging through the glass windows cut off Winter’s voice. Winter and Piper throw themselves onto the floor, and in slow motion, my head turns towards Tatiana. My body flies on top of hers and I send us sailing across the floor. Shards of glass cut my bare legs up as we skid across the marble floors.

“Motherfuckers,” Winter roars, reaching for her gun, but it’s too late. The shooters speed off. The patrons of the diner are screaming so loud.

“Tatiana! Look at me,” I demand. “Were you shot?” I ask examining her as I lift my body from hers. “Dammit!”

“I’m… I’m okay. Promise,” she croaks out.

“Piper,” I look over and see right away that she’s fine and I sigh with relief.

“Fuck Storm, you’re bleeding all over the place,” Winter cries rushing over to me.

I look down and sure enough, blood is pouring from my legs. “It’s just from the glass,” I try to reassure her, but it’s no use; she’s already bawling. We lost Haley and Lana by bullets. I can understand her reasoning to cry.



“When will it ever end?” she cries while dialing Braxxon. “Babe we were just shot at.” She takes the phone away from her ear for a second. “Yeah, yeah, we’re okay. Storm’s a mess though. She’ll need the Doc. We’re at the mom and pop restaurant. I love you too.” She hangs up the phone and starts tearing pieces of her clothing off, tying them around my wounded legs.

“Winter, I’m okay, really.” I try to swat her away with a small laugh.

“Stop Storm, just stop. The guys are on their way and I’ll stay and talk to the cops. Braxxon wants you guys outta here.”

No need to spell it out that he wants this staying club business. I doubt any of these patrons have people wanting to shoot them.

“Oh my god! Storm look at you,” Tatiana wails, finally waking up outta the stunned state she was just in. I’m thankful she’s wearing leather pants. She’s scrapped up but nothing like me.

“I’m fine,” I say even though I feel a little lightheaded.

“You’re not fucking fine. You’ve lost so much blood. I think you mighta punctured an artery.” Winter groans. “Oh shit.”

What?

“Huh?” I say.

“Storm, there’s a large shard sticking outta your thigh. I can’t remove it. The Doc will have to do that. You need to lie back until the guys get here.” Winter cries.

“I don’t feel so good,” I croak out.

“This is all my fault. I’m so sorry Storm; I was just shocked,” Tatiana cries.

I shake my head no; this is not her fault.

Braxxon, ZZ, Pyro, Shadow, Sniper, and Smokey come barreling through the restaurant doors as Winter lays my head back on top her lap.

I hear the sirens and I groan. Not in the mood to be poked and prodded at by EMT’s. I go to stand. I want outta here. I only want the Doc lookin at me and if I stay here, I don’t think even Braxxon can stop them from lookin at me.

“Fuck me, this shit hurts,” I whine.

“Dad,” Tatiana shouts and takes off running.

“Shit, she’s gonna have to go to the hospital; that shit looks like it’s in there real good,” Braxxon growls.

“It’s all my fault dad… I sat there… shit… I sat there like an idiot as bullets flew at us and Storm threw herself at me.

“Tatiana stop it,” I whisper yell as I look up at ZZ. He’s standing with his daughter wrapped up in his arms and looking very green.

Everything else just seems to fade away as our eyes lock. He pulls Tatiana away and checks her one more time for wounds I guess, before reconnecting our eyes and dropping to the floor next to me.

“I’m good ZZ; just a little glass.” I say quietly.

ZZ shakes his head back and forth in a ‘no’, as his fingers shakily reach towards my thigh with the shard of glass stuck in it.

He looks absolutely terrified.

I go to reach for him and I regret it the moment I move; a cry rips from my throat and ZZ’s head snaps up.

“Regretting it yet, bro?” Pyro kneels down beside ZZ.

What the hell? Regret what?

“Shut the fuck up, Pyro. I don’t need your shit right now,” ZZ grumbles.

“You need to move ZZ. The EMT’s need to get to her.” Pyro pats him on the shoulder in that way that only guys fucking understand.

I didn’t even see the EMT’s come in. Wow, I’m either way out of it or ZZ just has that kind of pull on me.