The gunshot cracked through the air less than a second after their eyes met.
Adrian moved on pure instinct. He twisted hard, one arm shoving Marceline behind the shield of his body as the bullet that had been meant for her tore into the upper left side of his chest. The impact spun him halfway around. He staggered, boots scraping across the gravel, and a dark stain began spreading rapidly across his shirt.
Marceline’s scream tore out of her throat raw. “Adrian!”
She lunged forward and caught him as his knees gave out. They went down together hard. Gravel bit into her palms and the side of her leg. His weight settled heavily against her. Blood was already warm and slick under her hands when she pressed them over the wound, trying to stop the steady flow.
“No...stay awake. Look at me. Ad
