I hurried with him toward the cab. Liam already had the back door open.
“Is he hit?” he asked, his face pale.
“I don’t think so, but he might have gotten banged up when I shoved him out of the way. He hit the ground pretty hard.”
“I’m sorry,” Liam said. “I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t leave without you.”
I placed Kit carefully in the back seat and climbed in after him. “We need to go now,” I told Liam.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Grimaldo made a call to someone. They’ll be tracking his location to find him.”
Liam jumped into the front seat and squealed out of the alley. Satisfied we were safe now, I clicked on the ceiling light and turned to Kit. “Tell me where it hurts.”
“My left shoulder.”
“I’m going to check the area to see what the problem is. It might hurt more.”
He nodded, his teeth clenched. I gently probed his shoulder, and he whimpered, then slumped against the door.
“He passed out,” I said.
“I’m sorry, man. I tried to get him out of there, but he insisted on helping you.”
Tenderness filled my chest as I stared at the boy. Liam had never questioned me before. Whatever order I gave, he carried it out, but Kit had rather stayed with me than be safe without me.
I pulled him gently into my arms, mindful of his shoulder.
“Call Doc,” I instructed Liam. “Tell him to meet us at the house. I think his arm’s dislocated, and he might have bruises from hitting the ground.” I stroked his cheek. “Crazy boy.”
“At least now you know he’s the one. Not everyone would be so brave to put themselves in harm’s way for you.”
As Liam parked the cab in the garage and closed it, Kit drifted awake. He moaned against me.
“Sully? What happened?”
“You blacked out, but don’t worry. We have a doctor for situations like these, and he’ll be here any minute to look at your shoulder.” I opened the door and climbed out, then lifted Kit into my arms. He held on with his good arm and breathed heavily against me.
“Please don’t do that ever again,” I said.
“I can’t promise you that.”
“Even with the pain you’re feeling right now?”
“Yes. I’d do it again. I wasn’t going to leave you behind.”
I walked him through the garage door into the house.
“I think I heard a car pull up just now,” Liam said. “It must be Doc.”
“Bring him up to my room.”
I carried Kit up the stairs. As though she sensed Kit was hurt, Cinnamon followed us, meowing. She jumped onto the bed as I placed Kit on the covers with the pillows at his back. Cinnamon settled on Kit’s lap.
“Hey, girl, don’t worry.” He stroked the cat with his good hand. “I’m tougher than I look.”
I snorted. “You might be tough, but you’re not indestructible.”
Kit sighed. “Still wouldn’t change a thing.”