Chapter 181: “You Are Really Bleeding.”

Spades – Point of View

“SPADES!” Marie roared, and I groaned softly, doing my best to cover Greta.

“Shooter. Shooter on the fucking roof.” Cateleya was yelling into her earpiece. I looked up to see her pressed against the wall. Marie was covering Marlene. Almost immediately, another bullet came through, scraping my knee. Fucking cunt.

“Come on.” Cateleya snapped. She pulled me and Greta away from the window, dodging another bullet.

“Can anybody fucking handle that bastard?” She snarled.

Levi and Caine were responding, but I could barely hear them. I was hit on my side. The bullet had been aimed at Greta’s head. They tried to kill a twelve-year-old girl.

“Is anybody in pursuit? Levi? Caine?” Cateleya hissed, then pulled out the gun strapped to her knee. She glanced at me, “Stay alive. I’ll bring him back alive.” She glanced at Marie and said firmly, “Keep him alive.”

“Go,” I urged, and she took off, running outside, chasing the shooter who was on the run.

“Mama!” Greta cried and ran to her mother.

I sighed deeply and leaned against the wall. I should have worn a bulletproof vest. Ace would be so pissed.

“You are losing a lot of blood, Spades,” Marie whispered in horror. I shook my head, playing it cool.

“This isn’t my first rodeo, Marie. Caine will be here soon.”

She ignored me and turned to Marlene, “I need a first aid kit. Spades just saved your daughter’s fucking life, Marlene. Get me a first aid kit!” She snarled.

“Of course. Yes. Give me a second.” Marlene stammered, then ran off into the house.

My head was pounding. The smell of blood filled the room. My shirt quickly became crimson. Heat flushed through my body. How fucking pathetic of me to get hit so easily. I could have pulled Greta out of the way, but instead, I shielded her with my body. I didn’t feel heroic at all. I felt stupid because I knew this was just the beginning. Ace and I were on a very important mission. We couldn’t afford to lose time.

“What … which one … I don’t know which to bring!” Marlene yelled from the bedroom, panicking.

Marie cursed under her breath and ran inside. I could hear pure chaos through the earpiece. It seemed Cateleya got to the shooter. I couldn’t take any further chances, so I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the pain that shot through my body. The bullet was still in me.

“You are really bleeding,” Greta whispered, blanching.

I flashed her a grin and headed for the door. I locked the door, then broke off the handle. I took painful steps to the kitchen and got myself a knife. I stiffened when I heard footsteps.

“Come here, Greta,” I whispered, and she walked to me, her eyes wide.

“Stay here. I think someone is coming.” I explained, blood rushing to my head. She looked terrified, so I handed her a knife.

I pulled out my gun and got into position behind a wall. The footsteps grew closer. It wasn’t familiar, and it was urgent. It was obvious this was one of Lee’s men. I didn’t let myself think of how fucked up that my father sent men to kill me, again. I didn’t let myself think of Marie and Marlene upstairs. I didn’t think of how much blood I was losing or how tired I was becoming.

Immediately, I saw the man, I pulled the trigger. I hadn’t even given him a second to act; I just killed him, blowing out his head.

He slumped to the ground, dead.

A second later, the door slammed open, and I heard rapid footsteps. I didn’t shoot this time because it was familiar.

Caine was bleeding. Cateleya’s shirt was torn. Levi looked enraged.

Marlene and Marie ran into the room, shocked. Greta came out of hiding.

“You took your time.” I glared at Levi and Caine, but couldn’t blame them.

“That’s a lot of blood.” Caine frowned. A second later, he was leading me to the couch. He took the first aid kit from Marie and got to work on me. I clenched my jaw, digging my hands into the couch as he dug out the bullet from me. My heart was racing as he worked on me. The pain spread through me like ink. Greta’s crying pulled my attention away from the pain.

“Why … don’t cry,” I grunted sharply as Caine successfully pulled out the damned bullet.

“I’m so sorry.” She whimpered, sounding so much like a child. She was a child.

“This is not your fault. You are a child. These men tried to kill you.” Cateleya snapped angrily, and I nodded, blinking away the pressure behind my eyes to no avail.

“You are not safe here, Marlene. These men will come back. You have to come with us.” I groaned, sweat beading on my forehead as Marie wrapped me up.

“I don’t even know who you are,” Marlene responded, uncertainty in her words.

“I’m sure you have an idea. These men were able to get past our team. They are gunning for you and your daughter. You have important information that shouldn’t see the light of day. Information we need. Come with us. Let’s keep you safe. Let’s keep your daughter safe.” Levi explained calmly.

Cateleya was speaking on the phone, probably to Alex. She was talking about a jet. Everything was losing shape. Sounds were beginning to muffle. Exhaustion spread through me like ink. I wished Ace were here. I wished we were still in the Amalfi Coast.

“Stay awake, Spades.” Caine slapped my cheeks as softly as he could.

“Get up, Marlene. Pack whatever you need. You are coming with us.” Cateleya stated, leaving no room for argument.

“Where are we going?”

I wasn’t sure who was speaking. I seemed to have lost a lot of blood. Too much blood. Fuck. Ace would be so pissed.

I could hear my heartbeat in my ear, slow and steady, till it faded to nothing.

Ace.