Page 67 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)

Shelby

I remember going for a family holiday to Lawn Hill National Park in far north Queensland.

At the end of the gorge we had canoed up, there was a waterfall.

Over the decades the erosion in the rock had created a natural spa-shaped bowl allowing you access behind the waterfall.

The experience of going behind the water and being in such a confined space with water crashing down like a curtain in front of me was incredible.

The water blurred my vision and created such a loud roar that when I returned to the outside, the first few moments were complete silence.

Just like at the waterfall, when the gun shot went off, the roaring sound in my ears was deafening. I know I screamed his name, but I didn’t hear it. I know I was looking at him, but I couldn’t see him.

It was the blow to the side of my body that pulled me from the memory and back on the hard ground. My body twisting in the air and into the arms of Randy. The pain shooting through my body as I hit the ground was nothing compared to the immense surge of panic in my chest.

The momentary sound of silence.

Bang . The sound of a bullet leaving the chamber bringing my eyes into focus.

Crack . The sound of Justin’s head hitting the ground beside me. The small blood trail moving like a worm seeping from his hairline and across the concrete floor.

My chest heaves against Randy’s protective grip. I break free, both of us pushing forward and toward the man I love.

Walsh’s quick reflexes caught Christian as he fell, and his head rests heavily in Walsh’s lap.

“Christian!” I scream through teary eyes. “Oh my God, Christian, you’ve been shot!”

Randy kneels at my side as our eyes scan Christian’s body.

Walsh is panicked as he applies pressure on Christian’s shoulder, the blood seeping out from under his trembling hands and spilling into a large red circle on Christian’s shirt.

“Oh my God,” I gasp at the sight of Christian covered in his own blood. This is my fault.

“No, no, no,” I choke out. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah baby,” he moans as I grip his hand.

Leaning down, I cover his forehead in kisses.

“I’ll be okay.” He tries to laugh, but it has him wincing in more pain.

Seth kneels next to Walsh, handing the gun to Randy, and taking control of the situation. He immediately goes into doctor mode. “Keep still,” Seth demands, sliding out of his shirt and balling it up as he presses it against the wound.

“Fuck,” Christian hisses, flinching in pain as sirens wail in the distance.

Randy expels a strained laugh, relief setting in that his best friend is going to be okay. “Shit, man, you just got fucking shot!”

“And it fucking hurts.”

“Crybaby,” Randy tries to joke but it’s weak and laced with concern.

“I’m just so glad you guys were there or else the situation could have played out much worse.” Christian says, his jaw clenched, his words clipped with pain.

“You got fucking shot, man. You realize that, right?” Randy points. “There is a piece of hot metal that ripped through your muscle and appears to be still in your shoulder as we speak.”

I cringe at the words Randy just spoke and how this is all my fault.

“Actually, I think it went clear through,” Seth adds, looking at the wound.

“Ouch, man!”

“Stop being a pussy,” Seth grumbles back.

“Your bedside manner fucking sucks, man.”

“Is it really bad?” I ask, studying his discomfort.

Christian squeezes my hand. “I’ll live, but you’re safe, so–”

I move quickly, pressing a kiss to his lips, and it’s everything to me right now. His lips are warm as he kisses me back, giving me confidence that he will be okay.

Walsh looks at Seth. “I can’t believe you just tackled a guy with a fucking gun, man.”

Seth holds his shirt firmly against Christian’s shoulder, his hands getting stained with blood.

“I can’t believe it either,” he shakes his head in disbelief, “but he wasn’t leaving me much choice.

Dickhead here just kept pissing him off.

Way to go, antagonizing a gun-wielding maniac, Christian.

One more mention of you fucking Shelby, and he was going to get trigger happy on your ass. ”

“Better me, than her.” He looks at me and I’m overwhelmed by his words.

By his friends and how they just risked their lives for me.

My body trembles as the adrenaline wears off.

My whole body is physically shaking in fear and now relief.

Randy wraps his arm around me in comfort, my hands still grasping onto Christian.

“You’re a machine,” Christian adds in praise, looking back to Seth.

“We’ve always got your back, man,” Seth says, applying more pressure. “Now shut up and stop fucking moving.”

Christian complies and groans as he rests his head back down, his eyes closing as he takes a moment to relax.

“How did you find me?” I ask Walsh as he shuffles back, allowing Seth better access.

“Letti has been tracking you on an app,” he replies.

“Oh my God, Letti, how is she?” All my friends are going through this hell, guilty by association because some sicko thinks that I belong to him.

I twist my head back around to look at Justin and he lies motionless on the ground behind us.

His chest moves slowly up and down, so I know he’s alive, but out cold like he deserves to be.

I look back at Walsh, my eyes searching for answers.

“She’s fine,” he reassures me. “Dani, Travis, and the police are with her.”

Christian rubs his thumb along my wrist as he breathes through the pain, eyes still closed. “We were talking to her as we were driving here. Dani reassured us she was fine, might need a couple of stitches. They are probably at the hospital now.”

Justin groans from behind us as we swing our heads around and watch him try to sit up.

Seth motions for Walsh to take over, removing his hands so Walsh can add pressure.

Christian grimaces at the pain of the reapplied pressure, as Seth stands and walks over to Justin.

He places a bloodstained boot on his back, “Stay down!” His voice is hard, deep, clipped, and threatening.

Justin doesn’t fight as he rests back onto the ground in defeat. It’s finally over.

Thank God.

***

My mind is a blur as I sit in the back of the ambulance. A blanket draped around me, my body in shock. I watched the police handcuff Justin; my eyes never wavering from his as they take him away in the back of a police car.

The boys stand around talking to the police, none of them getting too far away from me. Red and blue lights dance around the gas station as I blink slowly, taking in everything that just happened.

Somebody sits beside me asking me questions. His voice is distant, and I can’t make out anything he is saying. The only thing that has me checking back into reality is the call of my name.

“Shelby…” Christian’s voice is worried as he lies on the gurney behind me. I turn toward him; the medic has finished dressing his wound as I move into their spot.

“We gotta go,” the medic yells, then slams the back doors close.

I nod my head and take a seat. “I’m so sorry, Christian. This is all my fault,” I ramble, my head shaking back and forth as a flood of different emotions hit me like a tsunami all at once.

“Hey,” he stops me. “This is not your fault, baby. Hear me when I say that this was all his doing, no one else’s!” Christian says, reaching over and running his fingers through my hair. My mind is tired and body weak as I place my head on his chest.

“I can’t believe you came after me, knowing he had a gun,” I say.

“I’m fine, everything is fine.”

“But he could have killed you, Christian,” I murmur into his chest.

“Hey,” he says, his voice is deep and strong. “Look at me.”

I lift my head and brush my hair from my eyes.

He rubs his thumb down my cheek. “Shelby, nothing was going to stop me from coming after you. That was my decision from his actions. What my boys and I did was risky, but we would do it all again in a heartbeat.” We continue to gaze at one another, our eyes never wavering.

“I’m fine, you’re fine, my boys are fine, and Justin is where he belongs.

” He breathes out a relieved breath. “Now, relax, baby, and let’s think about all the makeup sex we can have. ”

My head falls to his chest in laughter mixed with tears. I take a deep breath and calm my worries because Christian is right. Without second-guessing myself, I say the words I want to say. I lift my head to look at him. “I love you, Christian…you don’t have to say it back, but I just–”

“I love you too,” he says back without hesitation. I stare back at him, doubt and my insecurities kicking in.

“What? You think I just go around getting myself shot for everyone.”

I frown at him, then laugh as I continue listening to his heartbeat with the reassurance that he is going to be okay.

That we are all going to be okay.