Page 63 of Ashes

I looked around the room to find something to protect me, but the only solid thing I could find was a textbook.

That should do, right?

I grabbed it and slowly cracked my door open, listening for sounds. It was quiet for a moment until I heard a groan followed by a “son of a bitch.”

I tiptoed down the hall and made it to the top of the stairs, only to find all three of them gathered in the living room, one of the lamps tipped over on the rug.

Kai must have heard me because he looked my way and that’s when I saw Jamal. My heart dropped at the sight and I yelled, “What the hell happened?”

I dropped the textbook on the floor and ran down the stairs.

“We have to get him to a hospital,” I said breathlessly when I reached them.

Jamal abruptly stood up. “No! No hospitals,” he said harshly, but his voice died down at the end as he bent over, his hand clutching his side.

“Jamal, you’re hurt. I’m a doctor. We have to?—”

“He can’t go to a hospital,” Valentina chimed in at the same time Jamal said, “You’ll stitch me up.”

I glowered at them. “I will, but at the hospital.”

He glared at me. “No, Sienna. Here,” he said sternly, leaving no room for discussion. Before I could say another word, he added, “If you can’t do it, I’ll have Kai do it.”

Kai looked down at him, surprised. “I will?”

Jamal glared at him before wincing again.

“Absolutely not. I’ll do it,” I said after seeing the horrified look on Kai’s face at the thought of having to stitch up my husband.

I helped Kai move Jamal to the couch. He fell back and dropped his head against the backrest, his left hand resting firmly on the left lower side of his abdomen.

I turned around and said, “Kai, go to my room. There’s a duffle bag in my closet with a suture kit inside.”

He nodded in understanding and left the room in a hurry.

Once he left, my mind whirled with a million thoughts.Fuck, fuck, fuck.I needed so many other things, but I had to make do with what I had.

Valentina seemed to notice where my attention went. “We have equipment downstairs I can get for you.”

I gave her a nod and she left, walking toward Jamal’s office.

Kai came back with my kit a few seconds later after Valentina had left.

“I also need a bottle of whatever hard liquor you have here,” I told him.

“You want a drink?”

“No, he’ll need it,” I said, pointing to Jamal.

I stood up and paced back and forth in front of him, running my fingers through my hair. Then I whipped around to face him, pointing an accusing finger at him. “You are impossible, you know that?” I yelled, furious.

What if he had died?

My stomach bottomed out at the thought.

He shifted in his seat, grimacing. “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”

I flicked him over the head. “Estupido, scratches don’t fucking bleed like that.”