I tug up his shirt and pull it off, using it to stanch the bleeding the best I can. I back out of the garage, steering one-handed, and then put the car in drive. My body trembles with fear. I can’t see how bad Esteban’s wound is because of the blood. There’s so much of it.
“Where do we go?” I ask, swinging around the corner, sending the back-end fishtailing for a second.
“Call Talon.” Esteban sucks in a breath between his teeth.
I wiggle in my seat, managing to pull my phone from my back pocket. It nearly slips from my sticky fingers. I force myself to pull over just outside the complex, my mind racing. If I don’t, I’m going to crash this car and make things worse.
“You better not fucking die on me, Esteban,” I mutter, wiping my hand on my pants. “I mean it.”
He chuckles and moans. “It’s only a flesh wound. Looks worse than it is. Just call Talon.”
A message on my screen catches my attention.
Unknown: Tell me you got out. Tell me you’re safe.
I know the unknown message belongs to Leandro. He promised he’d get in touch.
Me: Esteban was stabbed. I don’t know what to do. He said no hospitals.
Unknown: Meet me in the parking lot of Fourth and Grand with the pharmacy. It’s five away from you.
Me: You’re tracking me.
Unknown: It’s my job. Now focus on driving safe. Don’t speed. Don’t draw attention.
Me: Coming.
Esteban leans back in the seat, grinding his teeth. I pull back onto the road and follow the directions Leandro gave me. My head pounds with every passing second. My heart screams to hurry up but my mind knows better. Like Leandro said, I can’t draw attention. I can’t think about Christos either.
Fuck, Christos.
Not thinking about him seems to be an impossible task. What if he gets hurt or worse? As much as I don’t want to care about him, I do. We have so much history, which is why it hurts so badly.
My phone vibrates again, buzzing on my lap. I scoop it up, exhaling a breath of relief at the sight of Christos’s name flashing on the screen. I swallow the lump in my throat and answer, my hand shaking against my ear.
I clear my throat. “Christos?”
Christos releases a breath of relief. “Astéri mou, are you okay? There’s blood all over—”
“Esteban was stabbed. I’m getting him help.” I glance in my rearview mirror at the empty street behind me. “I’m sorry I left you.”
“I would’ve been pissed if you stayed. I pacified the man. He’s in the trunk. I swear I’m getting answers for you, Stacia. This will be over soon.” Christos lowers his voice. “I just need you to be strong.”
“And I need you to be safe. Don’t do anything stupid, Christos. I mean it. Call Talon and no one else.” I peek at Esteban, his eyes blinking as if he struggles to stay awake. “I have to go. I’ll keep you updated.”
“You better.” Christos hangs up first, the silence cutting through the line as heavy as my fear hanging over me like a cold cloak.
I reach over and rest my hand on Esteban’s knee, smoothing circles over and over again. “Almost there. Just hang on.”
I spot the mom-and-pop pharmacy on the corner and pull into the empty parking lot. Boards cover the windows and spray paint decorates the cinderblock façade. This can’t be right. Maybe Leandro fucked up.
Esteban gasps, startling me, his groan ringing through the car. I hit the brakes and throw the gear into park, turning in my seat. His eyes roll, his body slackening. He’s lost too much blood.
“Esteban! Esteban, wake the fuck up! Stay with me!” I scream, tears burning my eyes.
He doesn’t move or respond.
I’m afraid I just heard him take his last breath.